SUNDAY TRAINS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19500, 8 June 1925, Page 8

SUNDAY TRAINS.

TROTTING. ASHBURTON TROTTING HANDICAPS. (Peb United Jt'besb assocxatios.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 7. The following handicaps have been declared for the Ashburton Trotting Club s winter meeting: Trial Handicap, of ISOsovs. One mile and a-half.—D’Artagnon, Alton Water, Rer© Pointer, Betty's Boy, Princess Ann, M'Nab, Jesmond Dene, Granite pity. Betty Logan, Airman, Peter Wilkin, Native Chief, Hoon Hay, Cardigan, Logan Lady, Petersen, Tredenham, Rina, Erin s Child limit, Direct Tod, Pour Bells, Dolly Houi 24 yards behind. Lord Denver, Beau Nash, Rutine, Surfboard, Tommy Bells, Cameo 36, Rex Hinto, Winter Audubon, Morganza R. 46, Tom Thumb, Succession 60, Try Soon 84, Festive Morn 120. Wairua was ineligible. Lougbeach Handicap, of l6ssovs. One mile and a-half.—Frontier. Syndicate, Lord Tracey, Ando Spray, Princess Reta, Vulcan, Wee Patch, Don Wilkes, Our Beta, Hassen, Gold. Mark, David limit, Gold Digger, Maori Peter 12 yards behind, May Reta, Credit Slip, George Huon 24, Welcome Whispers 56, Keiman, Silurian, Kiarite Llano 72, Major Dorao 84, Huia Son, Nelson Guest, Zingiber /108, Try Soon, Avalanche 144, Corwar 156, Renown 168, Wairua 180, Pearl Coronado 192’, Bon Sonty 216. Ashburton County Gup, of SOCsovs. Two miles.—Browawood, Queen’s Own, Princo Pointer limit, Royal Chance, Wild Thyme, Bessie Logan 12 yards behind, Olive Huon, Gleaming, Hypo, Taurekareka, Landlord 24, Glenelg, Bell Harold, Partner, Paul Dufault, Kohara 36, Whispering Willie, Pearlie Chimes, Orion 60. Waitaki Girl, Ahuriri 72, Acron 108, Realm 120. Acton Handicap, of 20Csovs. One mile and arhalf.—Berenice, Try Soon, Copra. Rapier, Drone, Dusky Pointer, Harris, Ararawa, St. Fillan, Winsome Melody, Yenot, Generator, Gala Pointer, Kate Thorpe, Fireipan, Mentor, Sparkling Chimes, Nyallo, Erin’s Child, Bon Pang, Nipper, Holly Bell, Guy Fawkes limit. Master Don, Albert ..Logan, Lottie Advance, Cook Robin, Wairua, Olwyn, Glimpse, Bingen Lad, Lady Bountiful, Moonlit, Bruce 12 yards behind, Wainoni, Sea Pearl 24, Napland, Whetu, Big Bill, Winnie Dillon, King Abdallah 36, Daimeny. Buzz Buzz, Oakland 48, Rebel,, General Bengen, Ratana, Oboe M. Wilke*, Black Admiral 60, Native King, Kissing Cup 72, Princess Zoo 84. Stewards’ Handicap, of 200sOv*. Two miles.—-Huogwood, Wire, WTienuapai, Kelman, Lady Evelyn, Zelica, Llano, JudA Hancock limit, Burnie, Lonesome, Nelson M’Kirmey 24 yards behind, Real Guy, Guy Parish 56, Randolph 48, Joyful, Avalanche, Wee Olga, Patard 60, Merry Peter 84, Mount Royal, The Toff 103, Pieter Timmerman, Johnnie Bells 152, Bonny Spec 168. Winter Handicap, of 250sovs. One mila and a-quarter.— Pakoti, Queen’s Own, La Todd, Nelson Derby, Ramaroa, Idris, Brownwood, Cole Drift, Golden Sun limit, Harold Burv/cod, Escort, Dillon Wilkes, Rare Bell Direct, Talent 12 yards behind, Royal Chance, Rose Pointer, Fancy Boy, Olive Huon, Asturio, Downcast, Rex Coronado, ! Latoria 24, Gleaming, Logan Lou, Hypo, 35, Pearlie Chimes 48, Onyx, Realm 108. • Lauriston Handicap, or 165sovs. One mile.—Sparkling Pronto, Oaknut, Newcourt, Rebel, Squatter, Colchester, Oakland, Miss Adonis, Awamoa, Roi Cole, Cock Robin, Pan Yan limit. Desborough, Lincoln Huon 12 yards behind, Quiver, Double Event, Choubra, Rosie Nut, Liberate, Pessimist, Progress, Irish Whispers, St. Maura, Marvin Mac, Coronel, Pakoti, Darknite 24, Tommy Direct, Coldwater, Firelight, Lens 36, Teneriffe, Rex Coronado, Rose Pointer, Latona 48, Bell Harold 72.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Has a new epidemic attacked a section of our community? Are we threatened with the ravages of an anti-Sunday-train bacillus? First, the Rev. C, B. Jordan develops a temperature, over the DnnedinPalmerston train; then the outbreak in Port Chalmers over the proposed Sunday morning train; next the Timaxu Presbytery displays suspicious symptoms; and now the good Presbyterians of the Taieri are affected by reason of the prospect of a Sunday train to Mosgiel. Why all this fuss? Are not all these good people making a lot of noise over, after all, a very trifling affair? As a community grows in size, greater travelling facilities .must necessarily be provided, and the public which owns the railways has a perfect right to ask that they shoujd .bo conducted in such a manner -as to' give it the best possible service consistent with economic stability. The best possible service should certainly include a certain amount of opportunity for Sunday travelling. New Zealand is probably the only country in the world with any considerable railway system which has heretofore virtually ignored the need for Sunday trains. Haa Melbourne become utterly sunk in moral degradation because Flinders Street Station is not locked up on Sunday, and is London beyond all hope because one can travel from Wimbledon to Waterloo on such a day? Surely not and, if other countries can endure such dire temptation, surely our moral fibre is tough enough to stand it. These good people should remember that in these days Sunday is a civil institution as well as a religious one, and the workers are quite able to safeguard their interest in that day without any assistance from the Presbyteries. All this talk of the injustice to the railway employees which Mr Jordan and some others have indulged in savours not a little of cant. Perhaps it is not so much the interests of the railwaymen that these good people are concerned with as the interests of their particular churches. In any case the railways are run for the benefit of the community generally and not for tbo benefit of the department’* employees, and should a certain amount of Sunday doty be required from them, I have no doubt that arrangements will be made that wi’l be quit© satisfactory to the men. The Church is losing its hold ox the community. The recent “Church Rally” is a tacit admission of this, and it is safe to say that one of the reasons of this waning influence is the foolishly narrow attitude which so many of the leaders of the Church choose to adopt on general public questions which do not particularly concern her. The greatest mistake which the Church can make to-day Is to endeavour to coerce people into doing as she wishes. Let her teach the love of goodness, beauty, and truth, pointing out the path of duty, then those of goodwill will he happy to follow her, but so long _as she seeks to coerce and endeavours to hide her real motives under a cloud of cant, then the future will hold for her nothing but a steadily waning influence and the memory of a glory that i s no more—l am, etc., B. S. Dunedin, June 6.