CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2482, 21 March 1882, Page 3

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

A special general meeting of the members of the above club was held yesterday afternoon at four o’clock, in the Commercial Hotel. There were about twenty gentlemen nresent, and the chair was occupied by Mr H. P. Lance. The Chairman said that at last meeting power was given to tho committee to appoint a secretary at a salary of £250 a year. But in talking the matter over with Mr Stead they found that that gentleman was willing to have the accounts kept in his office as heretofore, and therefore, considering the circumstances of the club, and that this would relieve the secretary of a great deal of work, they thought they would fix the salary at the same rate as that previously paid, namely £l5O. The committee met last Friday week and decided to recommend tho appointment of Mr Penfold. They had taken a good deal of trouble about the matter, and tliat was the conclusion they had come to. There was no other business except to confirm the appointment made by the committee it it met with tho approval of the meeting. Tho Hon. J. T. Peacock moved, and Mr P. Cunningham seconded—“ That the selection made by the committee be confirmed.” In answer to Mr Thomas, who said he did not at nil question the wisdom of the appointment, tho chairman gave some particulars concerning Mr Ponfold. The motion was then agreed to.

The Chairman intimated that the committee had decided to retain possession of the old room, in preference to joining with Tuttersall’s. as was suggested at last meeting. Mr G. P. Williams would like to bring a matter under tho notice of the meeting. Ho wished to ask whether the club, os a body, did not consider that it was time a stop was put to the practice of betting first past the post, which now was assuming very large dimensions, and which was likely to become still more serious if not checked. On nearly every course in New Zealand the betting now carried on was principally through tho medium of the totalisator. At the last Dunedin Meeting about £19,000 went through those machines, and he did not believe more than £I9OO changed hands in a private way. Tne Chairman made a statement to the effect that tho committee were taking stops to ensure that the totalisator money should be paid in the same way as ordinary bets, and not merely on the first horse past the post, as had been the custom hitherto.

Mr Thomas remarked, that at tho Dunedin races tho person in charge of the totalisator, in the event of any difficulty occurring, had the power of opening the machine and altering the units. This he thought should not be allowed, except with tho consent of the Club.

Sjme conversation ensued on the subject of the totalisator, but no definite conclusion was arrived at.

Mr J. B. Greison gave notice of the following motions : 1. 11 That rule 9 of the general rules of the club be altered by striking out the word ‘ eleven ’ in the third line thereof, and substituting the word ‘ thirteen,’ and by striking out the words * the treasurer, handicapper, starter, and clerk of the scales and course, if members of the club, shall be ex officio members of the committee.’ ”

2. “ That a committee be appointed forthwith to supervise the framing of all handicaps, such committee to consist of not less than five members, who shall hereafter be elected at tbs annual general meeting. In the event of any vacancy occurring in the committee such vacancy shall be filled up as soon as possible at a special general meeting t® bo called for that purpose.” The meeting than adjourned.