IRISH FREE STATE.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18359, 19 June 1931, Page 2

IRISH FREE STATE.

PUNCHESTOWN RACES. A GREAT MUSTER. (From a Correspondent) . DUBLIN, April 25. For many years it was rare to see a Rolls-Royce car in the country. The owners of the few in Dublin were generally known. There is one yellow car which is believed to be the oldest on the road. The firm wanted it l'or exhibition purposes, and offered to replace it by a new model, but it has sentimental value for the owner. Last week these cars were to be seen in plenty. They were evidence of the wide attraction of Punchestown Races. There was some rain on the first day, but the meeting was a great success, and Captain Dunne, the new manager, received well-earned congratulations. The stands had been extended to accommodate a further thousand, and there had been several minor but much-needed extensions. The tote did a thriving business, and, though the paving-out was much quicker than last year, there was annoying delay before the windows opened, and if the weather had been bad waiting would have been most disagreeable. But the bookmakers were as noisy and numerous as ever, and it would seem that the tote has made little difference to their trade, though it may have narrowed the odds they offer. The larger men who bet on credit are quite unaffected by the tote.

Good Sport. (Motors have changed the character of the meeting and made it a big social affair. In the old days Punchestown for those who were not staying within driving distance meant big expenses in Dublin and tiresome train journeys. Now, owing to its central position, half the residents in the Free State can motor there for the day. The request of tiie committee for tall hats on the first day met with a poor response. Most limiting people have tall hats, hut fewer have the complete ensemble, and this is probably the explanation. The country was looking its best, in typical Irish colouring and broken clouds. The green fields and darning gorse stood out in picturesque contrast against the blue and mauve background of the distant mountains. The sport was first-class, and Ihe big race of the second day, the Conyngliam Cup, was Die best race seen for many years. After the leading horse and three others fell at the big double, the survivors kept in a hunch a'i the way home. 1-t was neck and neck all down the straight from the last fence to llic finish. As the leaders passed the hunt stand if. looked a dead heat; hut it was a win by a short head, and a popular win, too, for Mr \V. iJanly, .tins well-known Tipperary sportsman, was the trainer. Sugar Beet. The sugar licet position is still obscure, but it looks as if the company has won. At any rate, it lias announced that the factory will work and growers are sure of a market. This indicates contracts for somewhere about 10,000 acres. Numbers of these are no doubt small men who have little out-of-pocket expenses, know nothing of commercial costs, and value the certainty of a cash crop. Many of these smaller men had to give way in past years to the larger growers, and are now glad of an opportunity to assert themselves. There is, perhaps not unnaturally, a certain amount of bad feeling over the whole business, and Die Bishop of Kildare thought fit publicly to exhort all parties to allow freedom to everybody and refrain from intimidation. Owing doubtless to pressure from the Beet Growers’ Association, manure merchants have refused to supply goods under the company’s credit scheme, whereby the costs of the suppliers are deducted by the factory from the proceeds of the crops. This seems unjust and shortsighted in the interests of the merchants themselves. With Hie large number of co-operative societies in existence it is unlikely to succeed. The town of Carlow, at any rate, is happy, as the closing of the factory would have involved distress and a heavy burden for poor relief.

Ireland For Tourists. The annual report of the Tourist Association shows steady progress. It is a delicate subject lo write about, because there is a tendency in certain quarters to deprecate utterances that arc not pure and simple propaganda. Deputy Lemass got into trouble on this account for certain remarks in the Dail last week, when be remarked that our climate was not so good as some Continental countries. In the end truth must prevail, and it is a bad policy to boom attractions which do not exist. For the motorist who can move easily between the comfortable hotels, Ireland affords an ideal holiday. The roads are good, the scenery delightful, the people most friendly, but there is no disguising the fact the weather is a gamble, though not more so than the Lake Country or Scotland. The hotels are improving, but there is a limit to what they can afford. Generally speaking, they reflect the standard of living in Hie homes, and the latter must he improved before that close attention to detail which is the refinement of comfort can lie reached. The humbler tourist in the form of [lie, walker does not fare so well. It should bd an ideal country for walking, but tiie accommodation in the smaller villages is non-existent or very rough. In this respect we are quite different from France or Germany. Some organisation might well plan lours off the beaten track for pedestrians. with the class of simple accommodation that they require. The Tourist Association has reason to be satisfied, but it should not relax. Only recently in a good sized provincial hotel .tiie "boots,” without collar and none too tidy.' greeted me with tiie cheering announcement that I could not have a bath as the water was quite cold. And when 1 saw the bathroom 1 found its only ventilation was on to an inside passage.

A line that hotels in tiie picturesque and wilder fringe of the country should develop is tiie sport. There is free fishing in many places and large areas of rough shooting where it would be well worth while lo preserve anil to keep down tiie vermin. in the County Limerick, one well-known hotel is full all the season with limiting visitors, and Itiere is no reason why tills form of cnlerprise should not be widely extended. Oflleers on leave could have no heller holiday. The difileulty is not so niueh premises or capital, but management.

‘‘Tlio Premier City.” Apart from sport, for an ordinary family holiday. Dublin and ils surroundings is lull'd to beat. "The premier rii.v of F.uropr." i heard i! iveently railed by all enthusiast. II really does offer every all faction. (in:!', including one of the best courses in tiie I'niled Kingdom, sea-bathing, will .iContinued in next column.)

lonely mouulains with dark sombre lakes, within half an hour's motor drive, or less, of the fit y. For Hie lover of Nature .there is bin life, atn'iut which 1 ii,il well known aiiihorilv Canon Haven recently spoke with such enthusiasm. There is unrhalle.l scenery of every variety—mouulains l.i the south. sand diuli's and estuaries to the 11o:■!!i. The town has cinema;, theatres, ga lleric.-,. museums, dancing, dog and horse racin'', ami one of the tines! public parks in tiie world. There is a c.<:i>!iill;iiillll of open air and indoor interests where every lu.-de e.ri lie gratified. and whatever the weather nobody need be e\cr dull,