Snippets

Leinster Leader, Saturday 13 June 1903 - Page 4.

District Doings,
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In Naas and North Kildare
The discussion on charges for accommodation in the neighbourhood of the Gordon-Bennett course still continues. General statements about high charges abound, but the writers are chary about giving specific instances. Vague assertion is safe. Particulars are dangerous for they might be as easily explained away as the £6 for a room alleged to have been demanded by Mr. Kelly, D.C., Kilmeade, Athy.

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From the patronising tone adopted one would imagine that the people are under some enormous debt of gratitude to the incoming visitors. Now, the Motor Race will undoubtedly confer considerable benefit on the locality, but to pretend that its organisation places the districts under a sort of compliment is not alone an absurdity but an insult to ordinary intelligence.

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The real truth is that neither money nor influence would purchase the use of a course for a motor race in any other country in the world at the present time. The sport-loving people of Ireland alone are ready to do what neither France, Spain, nor Germany would permit. It is opulent automobilism that is placed under the compliment.

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Prices must necessarily adjust themselves not only in response to demand but in ratio to the unwillingness of people to disorganise their domestic arrangements for the entertainment of strangers. For there are families who would not undertake this trouble and inconvenience for any money.

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Sane recognition of this fact ought check a lot of the cant and humbug that at present abounds. Silly comparisons with the "moderate prices" charged in Cork, Kerry and Co. Down ought also cease. There is no parallel between say, Mr. Kelly, of Kilmeade, who lives actually upon the course and a hotelkeeper a hundred miles away.

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In any case accusations of over-charge ought be accompanied by particulars. In the absence of such particulars the charges may as sweepingly be declared false and unfounded.

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While we are referring to motoring matters we may mention that serious complaints have already been made by pedestrians and cyclists of want of care and consideration on the part of motor scorchers. In the interests of the race we think the Automobile Club should issue strong and timely admonitions, so that public ire and opposition may not be aroused by the indiscretions of reckless individuals.

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We observe that Mr. Orde in a recent interview at Athy, said that Press should preach in season and out of season the necessity for the exercise of caution by the public on the day of the race. At present we would preach caution to the motorists not on the course or on the race day, but on the public highways on ordinary days. This counsel is in the interests of motorists themselves, for if abuses already in their infancy are not now checked there may ensue an exasperation favourable to the designs of those who have been intriguing against the Motor Race.
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