MOB RULE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1928, Page 8

MOB RULE.

However great the disappointment or grievance felt by spectators at the Auckland race meeting on Saturday, there can be nothing but condemnation for the manner in which it was manifested. Dissatisfaction with the conduct of racing, or any other function for which the public is called upon to pay, can always be effectually shown in a simple and quite constitutional manner There has only to be a withholding of patronage to make those jn charge of entertainments realise that dissatisfaction exists and must be remedied. But to act as the crowd did on the Ellerslie racecourse is to apply mob rule. There lias been a tendency noticeable in this direction, and it needs checking without delay. When the Southern Cross aeroplane reached Christchurch there was

the same lack of self-control in those who awaited its rrival, and it is no exaggeration to say that one of the most dangerous moments of the journey was the final one, when warmth of welcome was allowed to run away with respect for law and order. Hitherto New Zealand has justly been proud of the behaviour of her citizens in any time of emergency or excitement, and it would be deplorable if conditions prevent such pride from being justified in the future. Admitting that at race meetings there is a monetary stimulus to excitement that does not apply to ordinary large assemblies of citizens, there is all the more reason to see that restraint is exercised. Otherwise it will ■ in an increase in supervision of public enjoyment which would be very unpalatable. At the same time, if crowds cannot be trusted to behave themselves, those whose duty it is to keep the peace will be justified in seeing that the orderly elements have no reason for alarm. After all, the first lesson of sportsmanship is to take the disappointments of the game as gamely as its successes. There was very little of this spirit shown by the mob which spoilt the afternoon’s racing at Auckland on Saturday.