A DESERVED COMPLIMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11399, 17 April 1899, Page 3

A DESERVED COMPLIMENT.

Tho Dunedin Jockey Club's Committee have formally, recorded their high appreciation of tho services rendered by tho Hon. ti. M'Lean in connection-with"the'removal of the club's operations to Wingatui. An acknowledgment of this .kind is only a fair thing. I expected it, and being inclined to let the committee/give a lead in the matter,I have unti^ now. refrained from saying anything on the subject. Now, however, that the committee have called for three cheers for the popular president, it is meet and right that all should join in with "Hip, hip, hurrah!" also iv the "Jolly good fellow" chorus. Even those who still sulk in the background and profess, to regard the shift to Wingatui as detrimental to the city's interests and inimical to the club's welfare—the purely discontented and the honestly critical racing man—these maj' without loss. of self-respect swell the chorus, since, though they still retain their doubts', as ■to whether the change was altogether wise, thoy must agree that the question-of a shift was at any rate debatable, and acknowledge that those who voted for the move were most capably led by the gentleman whom it is our delight to honour. Looking at the position fairly, the malcontents should indeed find in the facts the most cause to praise the Hon. G. M'Lean and those who backed him up. If the flight, to Wingatui was ill-advised, it must bring about evil consequences and serious difficulties for the club, and inasmuch as the difficulties have become so far surmounted and the awful things that were sure to happen have been staved off, there is so much more credit due to thoso who have stood as the club's defenders and guided it through the jeopardising shoals. The satisfactory- outcome of the inaugural meeting is by no means the result of luck. It is largely the reward of patience and perseverance and the adoption of a policy which in most pari:culars has been judicious. For these reasons I count on assent to the committee's vote of thanks from the party who yet remain hostile to Wingatui. The great bulk of us, who accept the'change as forced upon the club and view the recent happenings as a blessing in disguise, will add our hosannahs from simpler motives, viewing the position in this way—that the Hon. G. M'Lean, who was from the first the active head of the Wingatui party, undertook a grave responsibility and deserves our hearty thanks now that the crisis is over. In any caee, his unremitting and self-sacrificing endeavours wero entitled to recognition,' but we can -thank, him the more cheerfully if not the more heartily now that his efforts bid fair to be crowned with success. Three cheers for the Hon. George M'Lean.