RACING CLUB MEMBERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1866, 27 September 1913, Page 9

RACING CLUB MEMBERS.

ANNUAL MEETING. THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. Two. important amendments to rules were on tho order paper at last night's annual general meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, and this fact was 110 doubt responsible for the attendance,' which numbered about thirty. Mr. J. B. Uarcourt was in tho clniir. The aiinual report (particulars of ■ which were published oil September, 8) and the balance-sheet Svcre adopted. , , Summary, of the Year. In moving the adoption of the report, thu president remarked that the results nf tho .year wore the best.the had ever had. "If we take lirst the revenue. account," ho Said, "you will see. that wo paid last year the sum of £10,930 in stakes, an increase 0f.£1215 on tho previous year. ■ > The ■ Government tax is £6383178. lOd.y an increase' of £1100 17s. Bd. I need not again draw your attention, to . tho fact that this is an exceedingly heavy tax lipori tho funds of tho club; it is over a third of tho. total amount paid 'in stakes. All tho other items on the debit Bido of this account 'show small increases, with tho oxception of three. On tho credit side-of tho tevomio account you will bo pleased to know that with one. small exception every item shows a substantial increase. - The totalisator produced £23,611 2s. 5d., as compared with £10,271 '9s. 8d:, or aiMncreaso Of £4339 12s. 9d., and you will remember that we liad the worst \possiblo weather for our spring meeting. Gates and railway amount to '$6955.133. 6d., as compared with £5295 lfis. 3d., or an increase of £1659 17s. 3d.-. Members! subscriptions aro more by £130 45.; nominations and acceptances show an improvement of £409 (is. 6d.; and privileges, race books, etc., are £369 19s. 6d. better. . Tho total increases amount to £G9U',' and leave us with a credit balance of £BCOS 12s.'2d. on the.year's transactions, which you will see lias bepn appropriated ill writing off.freer hold property and buildings £8143 Os. 7d., funiituro £219 12s. 3d., and lun- . cheon and ten-stand £172 lis. Id., lcavit';; a small' balance of £73 Bsi 3d. to carry forward, . . Tho bank account is now £2737 Bs. 7d. in credit, instead nf an overdraft of £106 Is. 7d. . ... .. Tho programmes all round havo been strengthened by CSOOO, and with tho ' hearty support of our menuwrs and tho goodwill of the racing public gciemlly, we think wc may confidently look forward to a successful season. ' Calibre of Horses. "It is with great regret that we have noticed'from time to time'the gradual breaking; up 'of. many large breeding establishments hitherto existing in the Dominion. This is not to bo wondered at in view of the aggressive atti- • tudo adopted. by some peoplo towards tho liconsing of tho totalisator. Howr ever, it'-affords us'great pleasure to tell you that; despite this wo havo received very .satisfactory ontrics for our future classic races. . . . Much has been said and written about tho calibro of our horses as compared with those of other countries, and it will be. apparent-to you, as to ovory wellwisher of our sport, that-if the requisite quality is to be maintained; it is necessary that- importations,from tho Old Country of tho right class of horso be encoiiragod in every possiblo way. ■ This can only bo done by the creation of richly-endpwqd. classic races, and tho ■ quality ibf o'iir" racehorses■ will be thus inaintaiiied. at a high standard. If ffo are to be gnidetl'by'the history, of tho past, and there is no better guide, the clay will, come when' our colonists 'will'have"- cause, to be tlinjikfnl that tho best class of iiorso is available, and tho credit will be due, and .due alolie, to the policy adopted by' metropolitanWd other large clubs\iii .the encouragement of classic races. At a timo liko this it is necessary to emphasise it, as from timo to time oils sees letters. written by thoughtless people, and published in tho daily papers. ■ Sports Protection. "Tho agitation of would-be spoilers of our sport has fortunately this year bcen. somewhat less pronounced, but I take it they, are nono tho less vigilent, and in new of the geueral ejection next year it behoves every sporting member ' of our community (and I am' glad 1 to think'wo have about 90 per cent, of the population with us) to rally round tho Sports' Protection League, and eftectualy silence the opposition. An absurdity was embodied, in the now famous, if factious, Gaming Bill, preventing newspapers publishing starting prices. This, and many other absurd restrictions, should be removed, and 'it must be the objcct of-our-club to so conduct its. race meetings that 'the present opposition will terminate in tho creation of a better public opinion regarding' the . merits "and .advantages of our sport, both from a racing and a national point of view." i , Railway Arrangements. Mr. Ci Tringliaiu seconded the motion for the adoption of the report, and opened a. discussion by urging that something more should bo done to bring the; railway arrangements up to date. Ho considered that a special carriage should bo placed on every train' going -to Trestham for the accommodation of members of tho club. Other members ventilated minor grievances, and the president, in reply, said their remarks and -recommendations would be taken into consideration . by the stewards. Motions to Amend Rules. A motion to amend the tiiies, so as to limit tho membership of the club (exclusive of life members) to 300, was defeated by 15 votes to 14!' It was decided to increase the subscription, (for members .coming in after October 8 next) from, tliree guineas to five guineas. ... ■ Officers Elected. . Officers weft', elected as follow:—'Pre* sidem, Mr; J. 15. Murcourt; vice-pre-sident, Mr. J. 1:1. 13; Coatos; stewards, Messrs. J. G. Duncan, lli. Itiddiford, Ncii M'Lean, aiid Dr. It. A. H. Gilmer.

licuben Avenue, Wellington, with a grade if 1 in ii\, oilers a tougu proposition for jny car, but wlieu a cominoroiul lorry v.'itli a !i', ton load it, there's "something iluin'." Yet the Thurnycroft !il)-li.p. motor-wagon, carrying tho. load mentioned, was set to tho task yesterday. A Government inspector accompanied the party to the test, and tho 'i'hornycroi't took tho hill splendidly, iittainiug the summit without hitch or stop. As an even yet more strenuous test, the wagon was talcon ludf-way doWn the hill, and EACKIiD up again to the summit on the reverse gear! Hucli a performance; speaks better than any pretty words for the efficiency of the Thornycroft Commercial Vehicles. The test was run on kerosene only (130 test), vapourised by the Thornvcrol't patent vapouriser. Photos' wero taken at the sum/nit. When a wagon can accomplish a climb of this, character on kerosene it is not surprising that ro less than seven of these wagons have been r.ohl in the last thrco or four days. This particular one goes to l'ongaroa for carting irietnl,—Adyt. Coughing is bad for baby! Sprinkle o few drops of: "NAZOL" on tho wee tot's nightgown, and tho threatened danger will be warded off. Is. Gd. per bottlo of 60 doses—Ailvt.