THE D.J.C. COMMITTEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 39

THE D.J.C. COMMITTEE.

Several things were done at last week's meeting of committee with the view of making the Dunedin Cup meeting (note, please, that the Cup is run on the 21st March) pleasant

and attractive. One of the resolutions relaS* ing to the catering will be a source of satis-" faction to those of the racegoers whom Godl hath blessed with workable stomachs. I refer to the motion appointing Miss Murray to look; after th© luncheon booth. This is an important? matter. A day's racing on the fine breezy, plains at Wellington puts the average man irr good trim for a decent meal, and from all that has been told me Miss Murray thoroughly uiw derstands how to cook and how to serve al joint or a bit of poultry, her skill in this direction being so freely recognised that customers flock to the tables, and find it much, pleasanter to be decently catered for than to mooch about furtively nibbling biscuits and sandwiches. The question of selecting a band to play at the meeting was remitted to the sub-committee whose function it is to make the proper arrangements. Without obtruding any suggestion upon this sub-committee, I may be allowed to make the remark that this is a matter that ought not to _be slummed. I do so because I have heard one or two members of the club say in effect that any bandi will do for a race meeting. That is not the case. The crowd like good music. And if all the eligible bands are anxio\is for the engagement tho club is reasonably protected against having to pay "too dearly. The arrangement to lump the totalizator money and strike < one dividend should suit the public, since it does away with the need to dodge about from one maqhine to the other in order to find which is paying the better price about a particiilar horse. I am not altogether favourable to the practice of having all the machines working at £1, but as against ~my theories on the subject there is the experience of those qualified to speak, and they agree that with 10s machines at work the gross takings invariably fall off. If that is the case I say nothing, since the club is perfectly justified in peeking • to put through as much money as can be legitimately coaxed to tho windows. Mr Grindley's appointment as starter was generally exneeted Ho is thoroughly competent for the position - if he will but make it clear at the outset that he doesn't intend to stand any nonsense. The Hon. G. M'Lean was able to report thai he had made certain suggestions to the railway traffic manager with the view of making the travel to and from the course more comfortable, and that Mr Arthur had promised to consider the proposals. Another improvement resolved on was to extend the fencing at the bottom of the straight by about seven furlongs, thus shutting in the place where two of the Hon. G. M 'Lean's youngsters bolted off in a race at the spring meeting.