TROTTING RAGES AT PAPANUI

Press, Volume L, Issue 14916, 14 March 1914, Page 7

TROTTING RAGES AT PAPANUI

to ths esrob or "thb tress,"

Sir, —I notice that the programme of sports to be held in the Papanui Domain on the 21st instant, under tho auspices of the Papanui Sports Club, includes three trotting events. I understand that the Club has applied for and obtained the necessary permit to enable them to hold the trotting events, but could you inform mc whether the Government, in granting such consent, took any steps other than simply saying "Yes" to tho application? I am sure that if any inspection was made of tho ground whereon the trots are to be held, that such permit would never have been given. Nothing could be more dangerous to the public than to hold horse races in a Domain which will be filled with people, principally chil-

dren, with nothing to prevent them from gaining access to the track upon which the races are proposed to be held. In addition to this ono corner of the track (which, by the way, is about four laps to the mile) runs within a few yards of the plantation of trees which surrounds the Domain, and it will be almost a miracle that with a field of perhaps fifteen or twenty horses compete ing, if a very serious aocidont does "hot happen either to the spectators or to the riders or drivers themselves. It is to be sincerely hoped that the proper authorities will take immediate steps to see that the danger of accidents is mitigated as much as possible. I consider that the permit to hold the trots in such a small area should never have been granted.—Yours, etc., SAFETY.