TROTTING CLUB AT WESTPORT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22521, 1 October 1938, Page 24

TROTTING CLUB AT WESTPORT

ANNUAL MEETING HELD CONFERENCE TO CONSIDER AMALGAMATION [THE PRESS Special Service.! WESTPORT, September 30. A-ppreciation of the support of Canterbury, Nelson, and West Coast trainers and owners in making the annual race meeting a success, was expressed by Mr H. Lovell (president of the Westport Trotting Club) at the annual meeting yesterday. The totalisator investments for the two days, £15,687, compared with £15,404 in 1936, would have been greater only for rain falling heavily during the second day’s racing, he said. However, taking the figures over the last few years, the club could not expeet a totahsator turnover of more than £16,000, even in the best times, until the WestportInangahua railway was completed. This, he considered, would make a big difference.

The president reviewed the balancesheet, which showed a fair credit balance for the year, in spite of the expenditure of £397 on improvements. The track was in good order. Motions of sympathy were accorded Mr H. F. Nicoll (president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference) in his recent accident, and Mr C. Walshe, _a prominent Westport owner,who is an inmate of the Buller Hospital. A proposal that a committee be appointed to meet the Westport Jockey Club’s committee, and consider the possibility of amalgamation of the two clubs, both to run independently of the other, but to use the one property,, was made by Mr E. Skilton. He said that the trotting course would have to be sold, and the galloping course used for both meetings. He said he felt certain that the Buller Rugby Union would be pleased to take over the trotting club’s property and use it in conjunction' with the basketball, hockey, and cricket associations. He stated other reasons why amalgamation was desirable, including the saving in upkeep. He moved that the club appoint delegates to attend the confernThe motion was seconded by the president, who said that no harm could be done by holding such a conference. About 10 years ago this question had been discussed, but no agreement was rsschcdt Mr R. O’Neill said that a clay track was essential at the galloping course for training. , , Mr E. McDonald strongly opposed amalgamation,.and said the cost of laying down a clay track would be prohibitive. , . , ■ , Other members claimed that a clay track was essential, but agreed to a conference, and the motion was carri Tnie election of officers resulted as follows: —Patron. Mr A. Morley; presi-

dent, Mr H. Lovell; vice-presidents, Messrs E. McDonald and J. M. Robertson; stewards, Messrs C. P. Schadick, J Bird, W. A. Craddock. M. B. Scully, j! Watson, W. Elliot, J. McEnaney, F. W. Hagedorn, T. Scanlon, C. Jones, A. D. Batt, G. G. M. Mitchell, and W. Roche; auditor, Mr J. Radford.