WAIROA RACING CLUB

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 7, 1 October 1937, Page 14

WAIROA RACING CLUB

Our Own C01 teapondeut. 1

First Profit Shown for a Long Time

( From

WAIROA Last, Night. At the annual meeting of the Wairoa County ltacing Club last year's officials were elected unoppOsed. Those present were Messrs. C. V. Chamberlain, R. Phillips, T. Byrne, A. E. Beckett, A. J. Devery, W. H. Brady, J. R. Gillespie, J. S. McCi-ae, and W. Torbett. In

the absence of the president, Mr. A. G. Nolan, Mr W. H. Brady, one of the vice-presidents, was voted to the chair. Mr. C. V. Chamberlain congratulated the club on its balance-sheet, and Mr. Nolan with it, it being the first time tor a long period that a profit had been shown. Mr. Brady said that he was sorry the president was not present, as he would have liked to have brought up tho question of. the taxation of small clubs. The tax levied, £1275, was something to think about and it was wonderful how the club kept going. The increase in the stakes last year to £970 was a good policy and the increase of £240 should be maintained, he said. Mr, Phillips said there should bo a further increase this year so as to get more good horses in. Mr. Brady also supported this, and Mr. Gilles- ! pie said it could be left to the committee as a recommendation. He paid a tribute to the donors of trophies, and moved a vote of thanks to all of them. Mr J. H. McCrae advocated the erection of a jockeys' board, Mr. Phillips supporting this, and it was left to the committee to attend to when the new lay-out is Bettled. The secretary said the last year was the first for a long period that they hafl. paid full wages to the employees. Mr. Gillespie said he would like to see the same men getting pieference for the same positions, for he felt thafc th> club had been served in a most unique manner. Officers Re-eleoted* As no new nominations had been sent in for the respective positions, all the retiring officials were eleoted unanimously as i'ollows: Patron, Mr. G. C. Ormond ; presitlent, Mr. A. G. Nolan ; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. H. Brady and C. V. Chamberlain; hon. treasurer, Mr. A. J. Anderson; committee, Messrs. A. E. Beckett, A. T. Carroll, A. Law, J R. Gillespie, and F.-Har-nson ; auditors, Messrs. W. A. Crarer and' A. H. H, Unwin.

The secretary gave details of five valuable trophies for the next race meeting, several of them being from anonymous donors and tlie rest from trading firms. Mr, Chamberlain, on behalf of the president, voiced the thanks of the club to the honorary starter, Mr. AJ. Devery, who had givep. valuable services for nothing, and handed hin| an envelope to mark the cjub's sense of what he had done during the lean times. Mr Brady said that Mr. Devpry at all times had been a great supporter bf tlie club, and having two horses that could have been entered had he not been the starter, it must have been a wrench to him to be barred. The secretary added his tribute in similar terms, and said also that the club greatfy appreciated Mr. Devery's services- as starter. Mr. T. Byrne said that as a starter Mr Devery had been as good as anyone in New Zealand. 1 Mr. Gillespie said that Mr» Deverv always had been ' generous if he had a horse in the paddock fit for the district. Returning thanks Mr. Devery said tho club had sprung a surprise on him, as he had not expected anything of the kind. Bis heart was at all times in the game. Now that the financial position liad iinproved he hoped the club would let him off so that he could get into the district event. He appreciated the club's tribute.'

Mr. Brady brought up the matter of a new lay-out for the course before any permanent buildings were put up. Mr. Nolan had been seelcing the best advica and had selected Mr. Hill, course manager at Ellerslie, to give the club a proper lay-out, and he was ready to visit Wairoa as soon as the annual meeting icame to a decision. The proposal iound mueh support and it was decided that "the grounds committee should meet Mr. Hill op arrival. The proposal was conlirmed unanimously. Mr. W. J. Clark, who had left for Rotorua, sent m his resignation. Mr. Kim Tipoki was elected a club member. Votes of thanks were passed to Mr. A. G. Nolan, the donors of trophies, the chairman, and the Bress.