JOCKEY CLUB.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2026, 21 August 1880, Page 3

JOCKEY CLUB.

A special general meeting of the C J.C. was held in Tattersall's Club room at 4 p.m. yesterday. Fresent—Messrs H. P. Lanoe (chairman), Stead, Gresson, Griffith, Birch, Millet, Acland, Meares, Garforth, Graham, A. C. Wilson, P. Cunningham, W. Beeves, Egan Frankish. Messrs White and Bruges were elected as members of the olub on the ballot. A letter was read from Mr W. E. Brown, hon. secretary of Tattersall's Club, stating that the club had been re organised, and asking that the club should bo recognised by the O.J.C. Mr Birch moved—" That the decisions of Tattersall's Club be recognised by the 0.J.0." Mr Aoland seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from tho Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, stating that the club had voted the subsidy of £lO towards the expense of publishing a " New Zealand Turf Register," and asking the Canterbury olub to aid in the work. The Chairman thought that the project was a very excellent one. Mr Stead said that it was almost impossible to get any one to undertake the work. He had tried outside the province, but had failed. Mr Griffith suggested that the matter should be referred to the committee. The Chairman said that there would bo about £7O forthcoming from tho various clubs. Mr Digby said that this would hardly cover the cost of production, let alone giving the compiler anything for his trouble. After some discussion it was agreed to reply to the letter that the O.J.C. would pay its share of the cost of such a work. A letter was read from the Auckland Jockey Club, bringing before the club a resolution passed at a recent meeting, expressing their opinion that a publio handicapper should be appointed for New Zealand, and expressing their willingness to co-operate in raising the necessary funds. A letter was received from the Dunedin Jockey Olub to the same effect. Mr Egan moved his notice of motion as follows :—"' That a public handicapper should he appointed for the whole of Now Zealand, at a substantial salary, who shall visit the various race meetings in the colony, and who shall neither own, back, nor bo interested in the running of horses." He did not think it was necessary to make many remarks on the subject, as all who had considered it would agree with him that it was necessary. To enable a handicapper to form a proper estimate of the merits of a horse it was imperative that he should attend all tho meetings in the colony. He felt that all the principal clubs of the colony were in favor of the course | he proposed, and he hoped that the Canterbury Jockey Club would accept the resolution. Mr Millet seconded the motion. The Chairman said he had handicapped for various places in New Zealand, but he had made up his mind not to handicap any more, as he intended to run instead. He was in hopes of being able to get some one to take his place at the forthcoming meeting. However" if he could not, he bhould not see the club in a hole, but still he felt that it was very necessary to have a publio handicapper for New Zealand. He did not know how the appointment of a publio handicapper was going to be managed, whether by delegates or how. He had reoa>ved a telegram from Auckland that day, asking him to handicap for them, but he had answered that he intended to give up handicapping. Mr Gresson asked whether it waß not possible to hold a meeting of delegates in November. The Chairman said ho desired very much to see the work at the November meeting taken off his hands, as he had gone into partnership with tho Hon. Mr Robinson in racing for a certain period. This placed him in the position of a part owner of five or bix horses, which, if he was asked to handicap, would preclude those horses running. Mr Wilson enquired what amount might be expected to be raised from the various clubs. The Chairman said Mr Stead and himself had been talking the matter over, and had thought that about £SOO would be the amount which would be raised. Mr Egan thought that £BOO might be raised. Mr Stead thought the best thing fhey could do was to decide what amount of money the Canterbury Jockey Olub would contribute. In reply to Dr Frankish, The Chairman said thoy had calculated that the gross added money throughout New Zealand was about £20,000, and they took 2% per cent, of that as likely to be contributed by the clubs in New Zealand. The Chairman suggested that the club might give £IOO as their contribution. Mr Stead said that the plans of the grand stand were before them, which would cost £3OOO and they would have to pay the interest on that and £SOO a-ycar off the principal. Now he was not opposing the grant of £IOO, but he wanted to call the attention of members to the fact that they were taking some heavy responsibilities on their shoulders, and they would have to consider how they were to be met. Mr Wilson thought they were discussing what was really a matter of minutiae. Let them pass the resolution and leave the working out of the details to the committee. [Hear, bear.)

Mr Graham eaid that he desired to point out that the resolution of Mr Egan threw the responsibility of appointing the handicapper on to the Canterbury Jockey Club. After some further disouasion, _ Mr Bgan agreed to amend his resolution by the adding of the words at the commencement of the resolution -"That it is desirable, and so on. Mr Stead would like to see the words " substantial salary " omitted, as it was tending to mislead. Mr Reaves thought that where Mr Bgan a resolution required amendment was that it should be stated that the Canterbury Jockey Club would contribute towards the salary_ of the handicapper, provided the other leading clubs of the colony are prepared to pay their fair share. If the resolution went as it was now, the Canterbury Club would be pledging itself to pay towards the substantial salary without first ascertaining whether the other leading clubs of the colony would pay their share.

Mr Wilson suggested that the following amendment would meet the vnws of tho meeting :—" That it being desirable that a public handicappor for the whole of New Zealand should be appointed, the committee are hereby authorised to take such steps as may be deemed advisable." Mr Birch seconded the amendment. Mr Bgan obtained leave to amend his resolution as follows :—" That it is desirable that a public handicapper should be appointed for the whole of New Zealand, provided the other leading clubs of the colony intimate their willingness to pay their share of the salary of the gentleman appointed, who shall attend the various race meetings of the colony, and who shall neither own, back, nor be interested in any way[in the running of horses."

Mr Wilson withdrew his amendment, and Mr Egan's motion, as amended, was agreed

Mr Aoland 'then moved —" That the committee be instructed to arrange with other clubs as to the matter of the appointment of the public handicapper, and that the committee be also requested to arrange for the appointment of an interim handicapper, provided the public handicapper be not appointed in time for the November meeting."

Mr Egan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The meeting then proceeded to consider the revised rules of the club and of racing.

The Chairman mentioned the alterations which had been made in the rules.

Mr Egan moved—." That the number of the committee to be appointed be fifteen instead of eleven as now." This motion was not seconded. Mr Griffith moved—" That the clerk of the scales and starter be ex officio members of committee."

This motion was not seconded, and the clause as suggested by the committee passed. The clubs at Taranaki and Wanganui were added to the list of clubs recognised by the C.J.O. as regarded endorsation of their disqualifications, &c. The Chairman said that the sub-committee had compiled the racing rules from the last revised English ones. The sub-committee proposed to bring these rules into force in January, 1881. In the weights the committee had fixed the top weight at Bsfc 101 b instead of 9st as formerly. The committee had power to alter an incorrect nomination, which showed that no fraud was intended, provided it is before the race in which the animal is engaged, and in cases of handicaps before the weights were published.

Dr. Frankish moved for Mr Birch—" That so soon as the new rules will permit, it is desirable that no officer of the club shall be a steward unless elected to that position in the ordinary manner."

Mr Egan seconded the motion. Mr Cunningham thought that it would be a very much safer course to pursue to send proof copies of the proposed rules to their membe-s, and then at next general meeting propose that the rules be passed. He would suggest that the chairman should give notice of motion that at next meeting he would move that the rules would be adopted as altered by the sub-committee.

It was resolved that printed slips of tie proposed rules ahould be forwarded to the members of the club, and notice given that at next general meeting a proposition would be made to adopt tho rules as amended. The meeting then proceeded to discuss the plans of tho proposed new grand stand as submitted.

The Chairman said that the plans of the new grand stand were now before the members, and he thought they would agree with him that they were exceedingly complete. Mr Reeves moved—" That the matter of the new grand stand be remitted to Messrs Lance and Stead, with power to call for alternative tenders., and generally to arrange for the preliminary details, to report the result to on adjourned meeting." Mr Garforth seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

Mr Egan gave the following notice of motion :—" That no individual member of the committee or sub-committee be allowed to interfere with the management of the affairs of the olub or course, or anything connected therewith, without the full sanction of the committee."