RAILWAY DEPARTMENT AND SANDERS CUP.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18919, 7 February 1927, Page 11

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT AND SANDERS CUP.

TO THE rUIIOR Of TUB PRI33. Sir. - I'eferring to the remarks published in this morning's Pres* ro Hailway Department and Sanders C'uj) contest, 1 regret tliat it is necessary for mo to correct mis-statements of tlic Department re "loading" fares oil the l.yttelton line. The Finance L'ommittei; of the Sanders Cup contest never intended that fares should ho "loaded" (it is generally contended thnL lares 011 the LytteltonCliri.stcliiirL'li line now mo excessive), a* it is tlio wish of all that as niauy as oossihlo should be given the opportunity of seeing this great yacht race. All wo were asking for was that Ihn Railway Department should make us a grant towards our expenses, the money to come from the general fund of the Department, which fund should benefit considerably with the increased trnllie.

Mr Guinncss's statement that lures from C'hristchurcli to Lyttcltou were ''loaded" for regatta purposes is incorrect. Tliey have never been "loaded" to make a grant for regatta or other purposes, and the Department has always made a donation of 2d on first-class and Id on second-class tickets towards regatta expenses; hut evidently it does not see its way to give any concessions to the Sanders Cup Committee, although the Department should, and T believe will, bo the principal bencficiarv.

I trust this e.splanation is clear now to the genera! public.—Yours, etc..

V. E. SUTTON. Borough Office. Lvttolton, Februnrv sth.