RECORD HIKE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 10 August 1932, Page 5

RECORD HIKE.

SYDNEY'S NEW €RAZE. (PROJI OUR OWN CORBESrOKDEHT.) SYDNEY, July 28. , Sydney claims a world' record in organised hikes. On Sunday nipre than 8000 people left in eight special train> : for an. unknown destination, and then took part in a walk over a ecenio route for nearly seven miles. One hundred and thirty-Bix carriages and 22 locomotives were needed for the excursion, and the revenue for the railway department exceeded £ 1100. Excursion rates were charged, and the department, succeeded in keeping down the price of the tickets below 35." For orderliness it was one of the nioßt notable outings ever arranged, for cither the larrikins stayed at hpmo or the day and tho .hike took the poison out of their systems. There was a band to lead the procession down'the delightful country roads that wore traversed l>y a ! happy, singing throng—a crowd seemingly glad to be in the open and able to enjoy the glorious sun of a springlike day. Practically everyone was suitably attired for tho occasion, and as they had learned from past experiences there were fewer, who suffered, from sore feet, easily the most common complaint on previous hikes. Most of tho girls—and girls and ydung women predominated —wore Bhorts and were otherwise sensibly clothed/ The track selected was by no means an easy one, but every member of that vast party stuck nobly to the,, self-imposed task, and soemed as fresh when they joined the train for the homeward journey as when they had sot out from tho Central Bailway Station early that morning. It had boon a jolly adventure, a day in the open air, a day of freedom. With hiking ao popular among all sections of the community, it is unfortunate that'it should have been the means of hopelessly dividing the church. There are two distinct schools of thought, one that can Bee no harm in hiking on Sundays, and the other that sees nothing but moral degradation. The opposition is led by the Eoman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr. Duhig, who declares that "this sensational hiking will one day bring tragedy in,-its train." He says,that men getting into women's clothes is bad enough, but the reverse is worse. He knows that young girls in male attire would venture into places where they would never go in their proper attire! Whilo he did not believe in hiking at all, he did not object to parties of girls, going opt into the country to study botany or geology. When girls went hiking it seemed aa though their main desire was to attract attention.

The Sydney Council of Churches is bitterly opposed to organised hikes on Sunday." It has protested to those firms who were interested in the work of. organisation, and it has protested to the Transport Commission." Tho Council says that hiking has a strong tendency towards the desccularising of Sunday. People were taken away from their church. In Melbourne the Church has added to the volume of the protest. There,. Sunday hiking is termed " an extension, of the Saturday half-holiday," and the. Railway Commissioners have oven been asked .to assist by refusing to place: special trains at the disposal of .the hikers; As special trains mean :.bq. touch. revenue*-.little support is 2likely;4rom -that quarter,,ae.-reyeoue i« \ihe main consideration, of the An*.

tralian railways these days. In Melbourne they hare.decided-to appeal to: the'younger people ;not"to go hiking. o£' Sunday B,"Snd' a*mohsteJ: rally,, has 'b.e.en planned with this in. view... The Kev. N. C. Goss, of Sydtfey, is not among those who see nothing but evil in hiking. He says he has lost all patienco with those who. sit in their armchairs and criticise. He went outwith the record hike, and he conducted an open air church service.; Practically all the hikers joined him in prayer and in the singing of well-known hymnal Ha has the support of the Eev/ Thoma* Mathers, "who 4»y» faat the. cburcljt began iiM&e. open, airland- i& &&***s jcori; had been doa« outside £b» eove?

of a roof. Australia was an open air country and the Church was not opposed to the open air. If the people ~VP* ferred the open arr, the Church shoal'! be prepared to meet them there. Another clergyman has- agreed lo accompany the next organised hike.