WELLINGTON RACING CLUB

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 299, 13 September 1919, Page 2

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB

ANNUAL DEPORT. Tho report to he presented at tho annual meeting of tho Wellington Racing Club states: "Tho war is now happily ended, and in common with tho rest of our people it is fitting that wo should acknowledge-our deep sense of gratitude to tho men who, by their bravery, selfsacriiice, and endurance, liavo mado the victory possible. Tho broad-minded sporting nature of our physically fit has evinced profound admiration even from our enemies. During the past five years tho affairs'of the club have been conducted with considerable difficulty, and reviewing tho balance-sheet the club may' reasonably bo congratulated upon tho-posi-tion. At tho winter meeting no railway facilities of any description wero available, not oven tho club's servants being carried by rail, and as there are'nearly 400 people employed 011 each race day, tho trouble and expense involved will bo apparent to members. Unfortunately this trouble is still with 11s, and unless rolieved soon -the- difficulty of getting horses to visit our meetings .will be serious. Tho sporting public have patronised our course very liberally and' have borne the discomfort stoically. It is with regret than the stewards record' that-they- have not been , able to-do more for them. A contract has been entered into' for the supply and. erection, of the Premier (electric) totalisator,,-a machine somewhat similar, to. that in use at Eandwick, • Sydney. The outstanding - advantage of this machine being that all investments are . instantaneously recorded 011 tho face of the machine. 1 An effort will bo made to have. this, in use at .thd Cup Meeting in January. proposal will bo submitted to members at., tho nnnnal meeting ,to increase the. number of stewards-from eight to ten. .This"hasbeen deemed necessary owing to tho large amount of judicial .committee work ..required for the-proper control of racing. Members will note from the' balancesheet the enormous amount.of taxation' paid .by the club, viz., ,£19,985. ,19s, ~9d.. Since the, commencement,of tho war'the total paid under this heading amounts 1 to i£77,921 lis. .8(1.. This is.a cjas's, tax pure and simple, and it is out of all proportion to that paid by any,other section of the community. In addition to this, the clnb has. contributed very largely in cash .ami in kind to the Government and the various'patriotic funds. It is with deep regret that tho stewards record the death of the following, .members Dr. Pollen, Messrs. J. Webster, A. B. Dur-' rant,. Geo. Duncan, ..Hamilton Gilmer, and, also that of Mr. W...H. ..Hartgill,' .who, for 17 years, filled . the" position, of judge with conspicuous ability. The following officc-bea.rcvs . retire , accordingly under the rules, 'and are eligible, for reelection:—President, Mr.-J. ]s. Barcourt; vice-president,'. Mr. C P. Skerrett; stewards, Dr. Gilmer. Messrs. C. W. Chilman,'J. G. Duncan, and E. Riddiford. :