CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2522, 9 May 1882, Page 3

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

The annual meeting of the C. J.C, was held yesterday at 4 p.m., at the Commercial Hotel Present—Mr W. H. Wynn Williams (in the chair). Messrs H. P. Lance, P. We.-tenra, T. Acland, J, Brabazon, W. Jtf. Gortrm, O. H. Williams, F. W. Delaraain, Dr. Prins, *?on W. Robinson, Messrs W. Reeves, G. P. Williams, H. Garforth, 8. S. Revans, P. Canningham, Joseph Gonld. J. C. Was on, J. Anderson, jnn. t J, I>. Lance, R. M. Morten. G. G. Stead, Br. Frankish, Messrs W. Bay, J. Henderson, H. H. Pittman, J. B. Gresson, T. Millett, F. H. Bruges, J- Oakden, Hon. J. T. Peacock, Messrs A. C. Wilson, W. B, Armson, W. H. Pereival, W. B. Meares, J- Beaumont. R. D. Thomas, Pyne, P. S trouts. A. Garrick, H. Allan Scott, H. Ai Watts, G. Gordon, P. G Egan, and Dr. Town end. Dr. Prins had great pleasure in proposing Mr E G. Griffith as a life member of the club, paying a high tribute to the work that gentleman had done on behalf of the club Mr H. P. Lance seconded the motion, whioh was carried unanimously. A letter was read fro n Mr S. James, stating that Mr But’er had pail his fine, and that no hindrance to the removal of his disqualification existed. On the motion of Mr C, H- Williams it was unanimously agreed that Butler’s disqualification be taken off. Messrs S. Sinclair and J. E. Pounds were dec ared elected members of the club. Mr G. Q. Stead then read the annual report and balance-sheet: — ANNUAL EEPOET. In presenting the balance shf-et and statement of receipts and expenditure, I have pleasure in congratulating the club upon the completion of the new grand stand and enclosures. It will however be seen, upon referring to the accounts, that the cost of construction h<»B very considerably exceeded the estimates formed this time last year, and consequently the f lub’s position is not so comfortable as could be wished. 1 he disbursements on account of the stand and enclosures have been .£5975 7s Bd, and to meet this the club has a credit balance of - .£1637 Is sd, and cash assets due but not yet received of .£262 16s 3d. whioh will leave a debit balance due to our bankers of .£4075 10s. This debit balance, as yon are aware, is secured to the Bank by a guarantee for J 23000, sigm d by some thirty members, and t e sum due in rxcess of the .£3OOO has been guaranteed privately. The club’s position now is, that a balance of .£4075 10s is due to its bankers, and .-£336 is held on account of Derbies and other similar stakes, so that the net indebtedness is £l3ll 10s, against which the club holds property in the shape of the railway and stands, which have co.-t considerably over .£9OOO. While on the sul je-'t of ways and means, I think the club should take steps to provide increased accommodation for the public who use the cheaper stands, as the experiences of the two last meetings has shown that the present accommodation does not -uffice It also appears desirable to rail off a stand for cabs and private vehicles on the opposite side of the course to grand stand. These alterations mean increased expenditure, for which no funds are available, I take it that the views of the present guorantoi s should bo consulted prior to any increased liability being incurred. Subject, however, to this beirg arranged, the incoming committee would dcuotless have no difficulty in providing the moans to have the suggested alteration carri d out. A comparison of the ordinary revenue and expenditure shows that .£4974 14s have been paid a* ay for stakes, against ,£4938 8s last year, and .£4562 10s in the previous year, thus showing very satisfactory progression, when the recenheavy expenses ' of the club are taken into account. The salaries show an increase cf 7 10s ; the attendants at the gates, .£33 15s 5d ; and sundry payments, J2llO 10s 5d ; cr a total addition to the cost of management of i2i32 .«>= lOd- A salutary check upon the expenditure might be made by the appointment of a fia in.*i. *.l committee, whose special duty it should In to sanction all liabilities before they are incurred. Upon turning from the expenditure to the receipts, the ordinary revenue, exclusive of the totalisator earnings, shows a shrinkage ot 0a sd. which is mainly owing to the wet weather at the Autumn Meeting- Fortunately the totalisator receipts have expanded .£6oi 6a 6a, ond had it not been for the income derive Ifrom this source the year’s balance-sheet won d n t have been as satisfactory- A summary of th* accounts show the net profit to have been .£ i 069 15a 7d, but as .£245 6s lOd was paid oat of the current account for a new railway platform, the profit may be taken as .£1315 2* 5d ; and if this may be taken as a criterion of the future income it will be seen that the present debt, together with the interest as it accrues, can bo liqu-dato ' in about four years. In concluding, T have pleasure in referring to the steady increase of members. In 1879-1850 there were eighty snb scribing members, in 1880-1881 there were eighty-three, and ninety-seven have paid for 1881-1882, in addition to which there are two honorary membtrs. The statement cf receipts and expenditure showed the expenditure to be £ti24l 17a fid, mode up thus-stakes at the November and spring m eatings, £ 1971 14a; salaries, .£312 10s; attendance at races, biro oi furniture, cartage, &0., £'9l 4a 5d ; improvements, Ao to course, and office furniture. £157 9a 6d ; sundries, £3i7 3s 7d ; C.J.C. Hallway, £2Bl 16s. The receipts showed:— Subscriptions, £BB9 6a ; nominations and acceptances, £2256 ; grand stand, £1547 18a 31, rad, entries to

I'onrae, X 167 4s; rail, carriage to course, X 338 5s 7d ; cards and booths, X 650 14a fid; tatalisator, X 919 8s 6d ; sundries, X24515s ltd. The total cost of grand stand was X 5975 7s M. The liabilities and assets of the slab on 39th. April last were—Stakes, 1882, X 02; stakes, 7 883, X 174. Union Bank overdraft against prand stand account, X 5975 7a Bd. The assets being—Railway and land purchased, including cost of new platform, X 3200; wooden stand, X9OO ; new stand, telegraph room, 4c., XSOOO ; cash in hand and rent due. X 899 17s 9d; balance of assets above liabilities, X 4648 10s. Mr Stead proposed that the report and balance sheet bo adopted, which was carried nem «oi». Mr H. P. Lance proposed and Mr T. A eland seconded, a vote of thanks to the auditors. Dr. Prins proposed and Mr S. Garforth seconded, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Stead for the manner in which the report was prepared. This was cirried unanimously. Mr P. Cunningham asked what was paid during the year for interest. Mr idead replied, X 37 Is 7d, np to tbo last balancing day nt Union Bank. Pursuant to notice, Mr Wynn Williams moved. “ That the number of stewards be increased from seven to twelve, that is, amending rule 11 to read twelve instead of seven.” Ho thought such action was justified by the increase of members.

Mr Watt seconded tho motion, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman thought the election of the committee and stewards could go on at once, and that the scrutineers could be ascertaining the result whilst Mr G P. Williams’ motion, of which notice had been given, was being considered.

The ballot was accordingly taken, Messrs J. Beaumont and Garrick being appointed scrutineers.

Mr G. P. Williams then proposed—“ That the rule relating to handicap,.ing, as passed at the general meeting held on April 3rd, shall be rescinded and that the following rule take its place :—That a handicapper and a committee of three members be appointed, to whom the handiceps shall be submitted for approval j who shall have the power of revising them if they think necessary. That no member of tho committee shall be allow d to act in any way with regard to a handicap if he have any interest in a horse engaged in a handicap. That any member wilfn ly infringing the above rnles shall be fined X3O, but the handicap shall not be invalidated thereby.” ibis resolution was similar to one proposed by him some time since, but it web then vetoed, hie thought the handicapping question should be reopened, and that a professional handicapper should be engaged. The present system of a committee of five, who may be owners or not, obtained in no ether part of the world except New Zealand, and they most be clever indeed to give a lead to all the jockey clubs in the world in a year. The whole thing aro-e through the alteration of the word ‘‘revise” to “frame” The last meeting waa attended by many who did not really know what was going to bo done till they got in the room. It had been said he waa going to get back their old handicapper, ns no one else conld be got, ont that did not follow, although some of bis handicapping at the last autumn meeting was good, despite of the critics. The first part of bis resolution would be that the first election under this rule shall not take place till four months hence, and, if possible, the handicapper chosen shall act for the whole colony. He would like to see a man chosen whose judgment would not be formed on the races run on the Christchurch course alone It had been said t"e committee’s recent handicapping was good, but although two of the events were close finishes, it did not follow the system was good. No person should have anything ta do with a handicap that was in any way interested in a horto, as he might be biassed, and his judgment warped if his interests were affected. As well might a magistrate sit in judgment on his own case, as he would ba likely to give the other horses too much weight. As regarded the penalty proposed ha thought it necessary to meet the case, although he did not think any ons present would willingly give a wrong handicap. He hoped tho dab would give the matter the consideration it demanded. Dr. Prins, in order to be consistent with what he had previously expressed, had great pleasure in seconding the resolution, as he believed a single handicapper was far better than a com. mittee.

Mr J. D. Lance thought it was a question of finance. He believed there were clubs in the North Island who would join them. Another matter was, would the hancicapper he allowed to make any bets f It so, that had an important bearing on the question. He hoped the matter wouid be thoroughly discussed. Dr. Frankish, whilst agreeing with the mover, and also from other reasons, despite what Mr J. D. J.ance had said, felt that the club could not afford to count the cost. The handicapping of the clnh should be above suspicion [Hear, hear.] It was impossible for any five gentlemen to visit every meeting in New Zealand, to see the varions meetings, and judge the powers of each horse brought before them to handicap. Tnat was the great reason why a single handicapper should be appointed, and if needs be ha could be supervised.

Mr B. D. Thomas would oppose the motion, as even by Mr G. P. Williams’ showing the handicapping cf the committee was good at the recent meeting, and whilst he (Mr Williams) gave Mr Griffith credit for good handicapping, he could not give the committee equal credit. The reports as to the acion of the committee were false, and the attacks of the papers and others ware false and without foundation.

(Hear, hear.] He, too, believed in a single handicapper, but ha asked—was there a man that would suit their purpose in New Zealand. f“ No, no ” | As to the handicapping committee, ho felt sure no owner of horses would allow himself to be nominated. He should therefore stick to the committee.

Mr G. G. Stead would oppose Mr Williams’ motion, which was so mixed up that it should have taken the shape of a series of motions. (Mr Stead then proceeded to criticise the remarks of Mr G. P. Wi hams.) As regarded handicapping one man would be liable to have his single judgment biassed in favor of either a particular animal or certain strains of blood, but in the committee five opinions were to he consulted. Kven at agricultural shows a committee to judge was appointed, and if needful there it was more so here. If an Admiral Bona curd ho found then give him the single man. fHear, hear.J Hon. Wm. Eobinson was sure that the appointment of a committee was tbo right thing, and had found favor with the public. The last handicap was a goo 1 one. [Hear, hear.] They bad drifted into a very healthy state. At Pnoediu and Wellington they bad han-’icapping committees, and they did very well. If they had a haudicapper for the whole of New Zealand, the clubs could pay him a sum that would keep him above suspicion- Mr G. P. Williams had treated the owners shabbily when he said that t; ey would bo tempted to act wrongly. [“ No, no.”] Well, he said they would be biassed, but be did not think they would act like that for a single race. He noped they would continue the committee till the who e of the other clnba joined in paying for one good handicapper for the whole of N w Zealand. After cries of •* Que.-tion,” Mr G P. Williams, in replying, said that no owner being likely to stand on the committee was a new phase, as it was said previously that it would be best to have all owners. He thought it wou'd be best to pac-s the resolution that owners should not be eligible for election on the committee. Mr Lance—T should not have resigned had all the committee been owners. Mr Williams continued —He thought that question should be settled one way or the otherAs to what Mr Cotead had said about a handictipper for the whole, if a good man could ba got - Mr Stead —And what if he cannot be got ? Mr Williams—Why then get the best man possible, and let his handicaps ba revised by a committee. Messrs Lance and Stead had resign'd, not on account of the principle, but because it was said they were put on the committee for an emergency, and when this said emergency was over they resigned. Why had they not djie as Dr Erins had done, object to stand at all. Mr S. Garforth thought it wonld he as well to ccmmncicato with the other clubs, and thou consider the appointment of a single handicapper. Mr Williams continued —This question of consulting the clubs had been larked about for three years, and that was all that w*b done. He concluded by moving the resolution. which on being put to the vote, was declared lost by 25 to 14 Thu election of officers, &c , resulted as fol-

l->wi Judge, Mr M. Studholma ; treasurer, Mr i. O. Stead ; clerk of scales. Mr S. Ga:forth; clerk of coarse. Mr E. W Millett; stewards, Me-sra Wjnn Williams, J. Brabazon, A. C. Wilson, 1,. Walker, J. B. Grcsson, P. Cunningham, L Harper, S. Garforth, W. Beeves, J. C. Wason, J. Grigg. A tie was recorded for Dr. Pries and Mr C. Newton, which, on a fresh ballot beirg taken, resulted in favor of Mr C. Newton. Committee, Messrs T. Acland, J. Biabazon, S. Garforth. J B. Gresson, P. J. Kimbell, H P. Lance. E. M. Morton, iton. W. bebinson, G. G. Stead, H. D. Thomas, A. C. Wilson, C H. Williams Handi’appers, .Messrs J. Brabazon, S. Garforth, K. M. Morten, C. Newt'>n, C. H. Williams. Mr T Achnd moved, Dr. Prins seconded— That the clerk of the course be a paid officer of the club.” Mr H A. Watt moved as an amendment—- “ That the matter be referred to the committee,” whi h was agreed to. The ooas(deration of the Spring programme was referred to a sub-committee, to bo appointed by the iew committee, who should report to a general meeting. Tha Chairman reported that Mr Q. G. Stead had been made a life member of the club, in consideration of his valuable donation. [Hear, heir.] This was all the business.