MANAWATU CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 117, 13 November 1929, Page 13

MANAWATU CLUB

EXTENSIVE ALTERATIONS

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

, PALMERSTON N., This Day. Within the next few weeks, the Manawatu Racing Club intends carrying out extensive alterations and improvements to the grounds at ■" Awapuni, in conformity with a plan designed to alleviate the traffic congestion which has hitherto been the one drawback of the course.

The decision to proceed with the work was arrived at at a special meeting of the Racing Club's Committee. - Work will commence immediately, and within a week's time it is hoped to have completed alterations which will solve the traffic problem for the approaching Christmas meeting. . ■ . • ■ The approved plan.embodies the major, points of the suggestions published some months ago, as well as otjier suggestions advanced by officials of the club and Mr. Hastings, the steward in charge of the gates. ■ ■ ■ . • ■ • -.

The primary object of the alterations is to avoid the present congestion of care at the entrance. gates, and some radical changes in the fencing are proposed. When these are completed, the tickets of club ! members and those of the public using the lawn will be taken at a fence which will run across from the end of the rough-cast stables beside the main drive to the end of the other stables flanking the far end of the lawn parking area. In this fence the gate steward's office and the turnstiles at present across the rear end of the lawn [motor park will be established, while the ticket box will be moved back to occupy relatively the same position as it does to the present fence.

The existing fence shutting off the lawn parking area, and outside which the present ticket box is placed, will be moved back to the other end of the parking ground, and in this new fence the number of turnstiles and ticket-men will be increased. By this means congestion among cars at the gates will be obviated, for motorists will drive up to the entrance gates and" obtain a car ticket only. This will entitle the holders to park their,cars on the lawn area, and they can then proceed straight to the ticket box, buy their tickets and go through the turnstiles on the lawn. "I am sure that the scheme will work, and to my mind there is no question that it will very largely alleviate the traffic congestion at the gates," said Mr. Charles Louisson, president of the Manawatn Racing Club, when discussing- the proposed work.

Mr. Louissqn stated that the labour would be carried out entirely by the club's own employees, and would not entail the use of a great deal of extra material. The committee had given the matter considerable thought and was confident that a marked improvement could be looked'for at the Christmas Meeting.