Westland president critical of article

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 8

Westland president critical of article

The president of the Westland Racing Club (Mr J. Hood) said this week he felt it necessary to reply to “adverse” criticism of the club by the racing editor of “The Press” (Mr J. J. Boyle) in “The Press” Racing Guide of November 19.

“We are, according to Mr Boyle, the dust cart following the Lord Mayor’s Coach,” Mr Hood said. “Every person reading that knows ■ exactly what kind of vehicle Mr Boyle was referring to, and it is far from complimentary.

“We are of the opinion that in his eagerness to belittle this club Mr Boyle has stooped to a level of journalism that is far below the usual standard of The Press.’ “On behalf of the club, and, in fact, the whole community in Westland, I consider I have the right to publicly ask that the writer and his superiors publicly apolo-

gise to this club, and the community it has served for 105 years, for the unnecessarily rude and derogatory terms used,” Mr Hood added. J. J. Boyle replies: “Mr Hood draws conclusions from the article which are quite unjustified. I offered the opinion that a programme for a country meeting, with only six galloping events carrying small stakes and coming only a week after the end of the New Zealand Cup meeting with its comparatively rich races contested by some of New Zealand’s best horses, provided a sharp contrast—a contrast something like the Lord Mayor’s Coach and the dust cart.

“For all his powers as president of the Westland Racing Club, Mr Hood is in no position to assume that my reference to the dust cart was meant to veil a description of any other kind of vehicle.”

Silver Knight to return "The Press’’ Special Service

AUCKLAND. The Melbourne Cup winner, Silver Knight, will return from Australia this week-end. He Is due at Auckland in the Marama tomorrow.

A shipping dispute delayed Silver Knight s return from Melbourne, but he was kept in training and, according to reports received by his trainer, E. Temperton, of Awapuni, really thrived.