A RACING CLUB'S FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2890, 30 September 1916, Page 9

A RACING CLUB'S FUNDS

MEMBERS' STRAIGHT TALK PLEA FOR THE WAR FUNDS Strong comment on the failure of the Wellington Racing Club - to give to the patriotic funds was made J. .1. H'Grn-th at yesterday's animal meeting of the club. Mr. M'Grath contended that the club, as a club, was uot doing the sporting tiling in the matter. It was not necessary for the club, in these times, to show a profit, and yet it liad over £'1000 cash in hand. It had spent £50,000 on the present course in improvements, etc., and the ground had only cost £8000. Again, this year's balance-sheet showed that the sum of £10,665 had been written off. Included in this amount was £9979 for freehold property, and £157 for tile luncheon and tea-room plant. In .connection with thq latter items ho would ask tho stewards to explain their action iu writing such a large sum off. Tho club was now out of debt, and could well afford to make a substantial donation to some patri-' otio or wounded soldiers' fund. Mr. M'Gratft' went on to compare tho amount given by the Wellington Racing Club (£1150) to patriotic funds with that- given by chihs which were not anywhere near as .wealthy. During the course of this comparison he said that tlio Canterbury J.C. had given £5658, Auckland J.C. £5020, Manawatu £4200, Wanganui £2857/ Wairaiapa (Tauherenikau), £1.655., 15gmont ■' (Hawera) £1650, Napier Park £1250, and the Hawko's Bay,"J.C. had given tlio whole of their profits, despito the fact that the club was £20,000 in debt. Continuing, tho speaker said that the Australian Jockey Club had donated the magnificent sum of £24,510 to patriotic funds, ivliilo other Australian clubs had given handsome sums also. He earnestly ' urged the stewards to consider the matter, so that the Wellington Racing Club, one of tho wealthiest bodies in New Zealand, could be classed ftccordingly. It -was a pity that the-stakes had been increased at tho present time, said the speaker, because the increaso could have been given to tho fund for wounded soldiers. With tho chairman's permission lie would like to move the following resolution: —"That tlio trustees should take into consideration the desirability of donating a substantial. sum, of not less than any other club, to the Wounded Soldiers' of any other Fund." , Mr. D. M. Findla-y said that he agreed with Mr. M'Grath that tho club should do something in tho matter, but ho thought that certain guarantees should be got rid of first before the club could make a generous contribution, to tlio funds. He was also cf' opinion that all clubs in New Zealand should contribute to a central fund on similar lines to those suggested by .tlio president. That was to erect a permanent home for returned maimed and wounded soldiers in the liutt Valley. Ma\ O. P. Skerrett said that he felt sure that members of the club, would do tlio -right thing by the Empire iiHthe matter. Relatively speaking, the Wellington Club'was a now club, and it had just succeeded in paying off its. liability in connection with the Trentham course, and its current capital only amounted to £4000. The club had heavy taxes to face. It was tho first time that it had had to pay; income and war tax, tho latter amounting to 45 per cent. (Ho said that the stewards would be exercising a. wiso discretion iu holding their hands at present. Regarding- tho question of tho increase iu stakes, Mr. Skerrett said that those had been made automatic on account of the increased totalisator receipts. Ho also referred to what the Wellington Racing Club had done in. granting the Defence authorities the use of tho buildings, et-c., at Trent-ham. - Had it not been for tliis offer the Defence people would have been in a peculiar position. Every possible help and assistance had been given by, tho club to the Defence people, and this lm& been acknowledged by the Government'. It was quite obvious to those present that Mr. M'Gratli's proposition coilld not bo considered at that meeting. Mr. Skerrett, also strongly advocated tho erection of a permanent home for returned wounded Boldicrs.

Mr. M'Grath said that there had evidently been some misconception regarding his statements, and ho went oil to explain his object in bringing his proposals before the meeting. He said ihat if a club like the Wellington Racing Club, with a capital of £14,700, and no liabilities, could not at once give an amount to the Patriotic Fund .then it was something .that ho could not understand.

The president explained that the club had given 13 acrcs of ground to the Government for.defenco purposes and had given them the use of 232 acres. Ho : reiterated his former remarks (published elsewhere) in regard to a permanent memorial in conjunction with other clubs, being established. As no one seconded Mr.M'Gratli's resolution lie asked the chairman if the stewards would consider the remarks of Mr. Skerrett, Mr. Fmdlay, and A reply was received in the affirmative and the discussion closed.