CHEAPER ADMISSION

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 91, 14 October 1931, Page 6

CHEAPER ADMISSION

PLEA AT CHRISTCHURCH

Suggestions thai admission to the outer enclosure at the Riccarton Racecourse should be reduced from 2s to Is, and that the Tramway. Board should be approached to reduce■the return fare to the course, were made by Mr. G. Curry at a meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club last Tuesday.

"Attendances are dropping at meetings and the clubs niusfc try to induce more people to attend," said Mr. Curry. "Patrons of the outside enclosure pay 3s tramfare, which includes the shilling gate entry. Then they have to pay 2a before they can have a bet. Also there is a shilling for a race-card, and perhaps a shilling for refreshments. That comes to 7s. • Many people, being of the opinion that 7s is practically a bet, stay away from the course and put it on with a bookmaker." Mr. Curry suggested that the club should go back to the charge of a shilling admission to the outer enclosure. He pointed out that the tram fares on race days rose from Is 2d to 2s —an increase of 70 per cent. The board should be asked to make some concession.

The chairman (Mr. G. Gould) replied that the committee had discussed abolishing the shilling entry fee altogether. The reduction of the admission charge to the outer enclosure from 2s to Is waa rather too great.' The committee would have liked to-reduce the charge to Is 6d, but the turnstile system made that impossible. Had there been a single coin worth Is 6d that is undoubtedly what would have been done. He assured Mr. Curry that the committee was giving full consideration to the points that had been raised.