NEW TROTTING COURSE

Evening Star, Issue 18716, 19 August 1924, Page 9

NEW TROTTING COURSE

A SUPERFLUOUS CLUB

COUNCIL OP CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS PROTEST. {Special to the ' Stab.’] CHRISTCHURCH, August 18. Tho question of the establishment pr the new trotting course at Riccarton was dealt with at a meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations to-night, when the following statement was submitted by tho Rev. .1. J. North:— “The Council of Christian Congregations calls public attention to tho mischievous proposal to establish a new racecourse within the residential Area of Lower Riocarton. Tho four racecourses at present in Christchurch represent 50 por cent, ot sheer waste, since two would amply supply all requirements. The proposal to expend largo sums of money for tho alienation of land naturally required by the city for close settlement and for the erection: thereon of the couipment for racing purpoees is in the-, council’s judgment a piece of mischievous extravagance. The council reminds the public that the proposal is being pushed through in defiance of the finding of the recent Commission of racing exports a.p? pointed by the Government. The Canterbury Park Club was condemned as superfluous, and its permits were recommended for withdrawal as occasioning a flagrant excess in race days for the city. The reply of the superfluous club is to move into Addington, and undertake tho liabilities ot tho Metropolitan Trotting Club, so allowing that chib to proceed 'with tho estrangement of residential laud and the erection of costly stands at the expense of the people. The council calls the attention of the civic authorities to tho proceeding, and reminds citizens that tho waste expenditure contemplated would finance schemes urgently needed for the beautifying of the city.” The Rev. Mr North, in speaking to the statement, said it had been nrcrv'ved by a committee set up to deal with racing matters. The question dealt with in the course of tho statement had previously escaped the notice of those who were responsible for calling public attention to the matter, and had arisen throneh a notoriously superfluous club, the Canterbury Park Club, which at present held its races at Plumpton. If the new racing course were situated aa was proposed the area served by the beautiful new Riccarton church would become a waste area as far as settlement was concerned. The movement called for somo comment in the form of the above statement, and he would move that it be adopted without further comment. Tho Rev. J. F. Coursey moved that the word “ mischievous ” be deleted from the report. . Mr North stated that he did not object to the amendment, and tho statement in its altered state was carried without further discussion.