RE MANAWATU RACING CLUB'S SUMMER MEETING.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 14095, 2 January 1919, Page 2

RE MANAWATU RACING CLUB'S SUMMER MEETING.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —As a visitor from Auckland to the recent meeting of the Manawatu Eacing Club held at Awapuni on the 26th and 27th inat., I trust you will permit me space to ventilate a matter which I feel sure was a source of great annoyance and indignation to many patrons at the meeting. The matter I refer to is the catering. In the first place there was no hot luncheon provided, and I feel sure many deplored this, and the afternoon tea that was provided was scandalous. The price charged for afternoon tea was Is 6d, and the eatables consisted merely of a couple of cakes and about three sandwiches, and if a request was made for more cakes or sandwiches one was met with the rebuff that this would cost sixpence extra. I think the Club’s officials themselves must have felt disgusted with the catering at the meeting, and as one who has visited numerous racecourses, both Metropolitan, Suburban and Country meetings, I think I am safe in saying that I don’t recollect any country club that has served such scant fare as was served at the Manawatu Club’s meeting. Whilst administering this censure to the Club respecting the catering I must congratulate the officials upon the excellence of the recent meeting otherwise; the racing was good, the ground in splendid order, and the dividends were calculated more speedily than I have ever seen on any other course in New Zealand, and I hope for the sake of the Club itself, which is held in such high esteem throughout New Zealand, that the small grievance ventilated by me (which is only a small one) will be remedied in future. Trusting that the Club officials will pardon me for writing these few lines, which I can assure them are written solely in a friendly spirit. I am, etc., E.A. (Auckland).