NEW TROTTING TRACK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19250, 14 August 1924, Page 9

NEW TROTTING TRACK.

PROTEST BY CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY. JOCKEYS AND SUNDAY SCHOOL. (FEOM OtJB.OwN CORRESPONDENT.) CHRISTCHURCH, August U. The establishment o£ a trotting track at Riocarton was 'again before fcho Christchurch Presbytery at its meeting to-day. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. U. F. Bollard) wrote in reply to a resolution from the Presbytery. The resolution was one of protest against the establishment of a trotting ground on a piece of land covering 92 acres in close proximity to the Riocartoti Presbyterian Church. The Presbytery considered the establishment of such a ground detrimental to the welfare of the parish, and to the moral and religious life of the community. Mr Bollard stated that from inquiries made he had ascertained that the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club which, up to the present, had been racing on a leased propety at Addington, had purchased about three years ago the property referred to by tlic Presbytery for the purpose of forming a new trotting racecourse. The club had since disposed of its interests in the leased ground at Addington to the Canterbury Park Trotting Club. The Minister stated that ho had no statutory power (o' prevent the New Zealand Metropolitan Trottinb Club from forming a new racecourse on its property at Riccarton. Mr W. H. Rose: Does that, mean that there will be another trotting club? The Rev. A. B. Kilroy explained that no extra trotting club would be formed, but there was simply a change of headquarters. The Rev. N. L. D. Webster: That means at any rate that there will be two trotting clubs, cheek by jowl. In another 15 years the district where the tracks are situated will bo the very heart of the city. There is no city that I know of where the racing tracks are jammed right near the city. The people of, Christchurch have no vision to allow' things like that. Trotting is the sport of these people, and they’re entitled to have it, but not in the heart of the city. Thev should go out farther. We did right in protesting in this matter. The letter of the Minister of Internal Affairs was received. The disorganisation of a Sunday School by the playing of the Jockeys' Football Match last Sunday was also referred to. The Rev. J. S. Reid brought up the question.

A few years ago the Christchurch Presbytery had sent a deputation regarding this matter to the jockeys, ha said, and as a result the Sunday football match had fallen through, but the match had been played again this year. The match was played right behind the Sookbum Sunday School, and as a result the session of the Sunday School was completely disorganised. The same thing had happened on the previous Sunday when the practice gome was held. Such a thing was unfair to the teachers and bad for the children. .Somefiling should be done by the Presbytery in protest, although he did not know what could be done. The match had undoubtedly interfered with the Sunday School. The whole thing was a scandal. Tiie Rev. John Dickson: Why not protest airaiiist it? Mr Reid: Well it’s not much good now. We can do nothing for another year. It was agreed to hold the matter over.