WESTLAND RACING CLUB

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1924, Page 1

WESTLAND RACING CLUB

ANNUA 1. .MEETING. WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21. ’I lie annual meeting el 1 lie .'dune ( lull v. as held as above, opening at Il) o'clock. I’l.-selil Me:--rs \\ . 1.. Williams ( President). 11. A. Thompson, B. Win ley, 11. Pul land. -I. Peake. I). Evans, l'\ .McGregor. li. Adamsnn, C. 'S. Neville. C. .1. Nightingale. V. . A. Thompson .A. Snell. \\ . I lull. .Inhn--tnn. M. Houston. W. .Jeffries, .). .1. Mclntosh and Ur Tciehelmnnn. The minutes of the previous annual meeting were read and confirmed. ANNUAL RKI’ORT. Gentlemen The executive has tlm honor to report in respect to ihe operations of the Cluli for the past season. The usual two days' meeting was held at Christmas, and the one day meeting at Kasler. The first meiitioiie.l was mi impoidanl eathering heilie held in ennjunet ion with the I'.xhiiiilina. and the Ciuh made siu-eial arrangements for the oeeasion. including eon-ideralily enhanced stakes. Ihe meeting was held in goad weai'ier, and was fairly sin eessful linamTally in that 1 1• ■ meetin ' held its own, kill iheio was disappoiul men! as lo the xllpp.nl by oulsjdo owners. The aiilumn meeting was marred liy hotli lie- weal her am. the railwav hold-up. anil resulted in a substantial less. The slakes cll'ercd hv She Clilh last season were the highest daily average for Ihe Ciast. bring Cl OAK per dimn. Tin' result in entries was not oipinl to the enterprise of the Cluh. whieh reduced the lees also. Actually the intraliee reeeipls wi-re In-low those el the previous season when silhslniit ially less stake money was oliered. Tin- (oivernmenl taxation is still a heavy drain on tin* receipts, and averages nearly £s’!)J per day's racing. The amount paid over to the State for (axes was KTUiA 8s ‘Jd. The increased stakes and other expenses. imlmliiiLr improvements and additional lurnitiire. caused a heavy strain oil the resnurees as unfurl unately Hie net revenue did not diselo-e an increase. The Cluh. however carried out. the prnoramnie outlined at the last annual meetiuv;. hut did s', 1111 1 vat the cost of makiiip a loss of CUT I (is Id on tin- year's transactions. The de' il l.alam-e has now .-rown from f»-TI Is :>,! to F I 'Ti-T 7s 7d. Fort unately Ihere are not :i’:v new works neec-snrv lo f-e-e, exeent in:; the oainlines if lie,, lo:ihi: lie's which has heen pot in hand already heino lir-

.enlly necessary -mi an eeomimieal hasi o and the w ork is pro'yressiiio satisfa -torily under the caretaker and an assistant. As a rcsidl the principal loiildines will present a more aitrne-

live annearan.-e this .-.iiinniel'. In view nf Ihe linaneial position, and the fact that Ihme is douhl ~ti 11 howfar the (,'ovm nmei'l liimm ial proposals will assist strum-dim; enimlry eluhs lo maintain the snort at a eredilahle siandanl. it will h- necessary In eeuniiInise wheio nossil-le. It i' sipmested that there should he a substantial reduction in tlie stakes. I.asf vear and urevioii'ly. increases were made in the hope of at tractile.! more horses to the Coast. The wood intentions of the Club have mil home the desired fruit. It is now ai'-pareni that mute savin'; must he made, and it is propn-ed this \ear to r.-duee tile total stakes to mpi:’,.!. (.o-.ii'O 1ei11,.; the aimnmi su<;-m-slcd for ( hi i't mas. and £C.li(! tor the !•':• s|•. r meet ini'. This "id reduce the dailv a ver:i.... from ClP.'iS to C‘'''T. \. hieh "ill place the ("tills second on ihe -takes - li-l of Const Clilh-;. It menus in all a t edict ton of Col-T as my-titist the mist season. Il is not intend. 1. 1 that any stake at. Christ inns should he less limn £|lltl. hut the Faster meetino programme will lie more moderate. As veoti as the accounts show some clast i.il\ a ■;:! i It. the t'lllh i'- Mire to id'e I tali- 1. 11 1 a * pn cot Ihe iclm l i,.u |, I - 1 1 11 i i o" d.le i oil i -it -i linan i ial In-., to tho ( 'luh. ami that is mil sound linatc o. nor lnniesl spoi l. Ihe •Takes proprued il is of iiit.-re- t- to pole are an increase ol Cldli't ahoi'e the -lakes offered ten years nip'. The convetiienee of the enlarged refreshment room, and Ihe u.n. ectrati.oi under one roof, was a marked site- , e-.-s. The ((uarlei-s are roomv and w ill he made hriahlei later with paint ills; and dee.,ration. This branch of the Cluh’. meeiim.r was manaced as I■-fie-e most s.it isfm lorilv h.v Mrs I’arkhi!i. who eottdnetetl the rooms most The improvements l-> i i,.. tis.itim; track hv I lie Westland f ilth provided a lir-.l ela-' track, uipahl*. of aei oittmodat it;e Ihe itiereasili)! fields which favor this I,ranch of spoil. Kx pee lalto us with regard lo tic- lulure should he brh'ht. for the lea-on that the Cluh lias nmv a well found raeino track, and app-iiul nieuts. All lar;p* expenditure is at an end. and with the economy proposed in the adiuiiitslration. the season nmv entered upon should see a substantial reduction in the Cluh debt. Fverylhinv about the course and erottnds is in vend order. The caretaker has l.eeit most attentive lo his duties am! the aldraclive state ol everythino about the racecourse hears that" statement out. The Clubs nflicials worked well and enthusiastically throliehnllt tin 1 year. A> heliife. scmmal ladies assisted with the liineheoii atraitceiuentx .and cordial (hacks "er.expressed for the friendly help. II the load of taxation could he lightened at this juncture it would he most helpful. Til eutninun with many other Clubs which have leewav lo make up. tile impost is far 100 oreal and the l-inu-nromised rebel -n illicit overdue would be partieiil:!! Iv weleome al this time. The Cl-d has a well estahlished rej-uiation. an as-et which your ( tilllpiiltee has endeavoured to ijpiard •zealously. Il is hoped that the eomine '■ear’s operations will add even iieue in the lustre "f the Club's record which -lands si, Itieh in the public esteem. TIIK i:\I.ANCF. SI IK FT.

Tin* ivivipts for ilo* yi'sir u.*r** Cl9('.:i Os (Id. the principal items being Totalisi'.tor .Cl?7C> I 10s: inivileges Cl'lol Os Oil: nominations and acceptances 7:i |(!s. The dehit balance was 7s 7.1.

On tin- expenditure side stakes nhsorhcd £:U7o. Covernment taxes L"JHO-> 8s lid; pen era I expenses £,ol ] Is. Ihe total of the expenditure was CfilPS l;l----7d. iaelndinp £Sol Is .'ld dehit halame brought forward. The prolil enrninps were CIOOO os. and the hiss outlay £oOtt, Us -Id. being a deficit on the year’s operations of c;'7l Os id. The assets of the Cluh total £;V_Mft. and the Ijahilitic-s £nlfil> 7s 7d. ’I he de!>oii(lives now ontstnndinp included in the liabilities total COOSA.

The President in nmvinp the reception and adoption o! the foregoing statements regretted the weather that night was so unfavourable. A welcome was extended to Mr A\ . A. Thompson, "the father of the Cluh.” who lnid keen a member since the sixties. Tlie year which had pone hy had not keen a pood one financially. The Cluh had had luck with the weather. In the matter of postponements due to had weather on race days they had a record. The financial statement showed a Ill's oil the vear s transactions. Trndi stake ; ah ol hed the ieveiiue. v.ha *i i,l liirn was retimed o inp to ad vets.- . irdimsl am ec Tt might he nece-sarv to ivvi-e their administration and he not so liberal as a Cfiih in the past. It was a matter for consideration whether admission tor ladies should not he charged now. ATr V. MeGrepor seconded the million for the reception and adoption of the balance sheet. Air W. A. Thompson regretted the year had not been a prosperous one. and thought the Committee should follow the Chairman’s suggestion and revise the administration. Afr Neville speaking as tin owner, did not Chink there would lie any objection to the reduction proposed in regard to the stakes under the circumstances.

Mr W. Ilall spoke of the extra impost placed on owners by the double eharee by the railway for the carriage of horses competing at race meetings. Mr .Jeffries enquired in regard to outstanding fees, and in view of the linaneial position thought the IDs. tolalisalor should he introduced. lie ngre.-d Ihe Club was too lavish with provileges, and fell that more money should le raised hv members’ subscriptions. Messrs Houston and Mclntosh supported the remarks made and the necessity for observing greater economy. Mr Kvans said the financial position was due to the high stakes given, which had nut brought about the return expected. The reduction prn-po-od would meet the position, lie did not favour (lie Iff; tote, which was being condemned now even by leading metropolitan clubs, lie did not consider there had keen any extravagance with regard to the privileges, and was guile xalbdied the steps proposed would redeem tile position. Alter further discussion the motion was adopted. Mr Thompson moved that the reeom-ni'-iidatiotis suggested in the discussion, including the introduction of the Ids tote. I,e referred to the incoming commit lee for , on-ideral ion. Mr .letlrics ■oi nmled. Carried. F.I.KU IT. >N UK “ •■'fM'TTF.K. The relaiy Mated that Messrs Keller and Bruce had intimated they would no! oiler thein-elves lor re-eJoe-tiott this year. Mr Kvans stated that as he was opposed lo the It); tote, and did not consider the suggested curtailment of privileges would In.* helplul. he "iitil.l | refer to stand down also, so its to give way lo the new policy proposed. Meml:.-rx mil disoo-e.l to aeieo to this course, ami Mr Kvans stilted he "liiild agree lo stand, hut they most understand his view-son the matter, and he did not want to he the cause of any dissension later. The following Cominittcc was then elected:—Messrs AYilliams. Sellers. Hutland. Thompson. Mclntosh, McUiegor. Houston. Yanall. Neville. Adamson, and Kvans. Mr Jcftriis declined nomination. On behalf of the newly elected Committee, Mr Williams returned thanks for the eonlidence shown in re-electing the former members. The Chairman proposed the health of Ms- Thompson sour., "ho in turn pro-t'lis-a! the health of the President, and wi-hed the Cluh a stieeessfttl year. The annual meeting then concluded. (•(iMMITTKK MITK'ITNC. The ( o.'imil tee met subsequently, when Mr Williams was elected Chairman. The filli'v-mg ollieers and nllieials were tt|',pni tiled : - l'atron ;: lieu -I. Crimnnoid. M.U.C.. lion 11. 1.. Michel. M.1..C.. T. K. A'. Seddoit. Iv-q. I’resiilent : .Mr W. K. Williams. lion. Judge: Mr F. MrCregor. lien. Ueputy-lull.;,.: .Mr If. Whiley. Stewards; .Messrs \\ . [*.. Williams (Chairman). F. Me* Ireg.ir (Ue--1:111 y-( hairman). C. S. Neville. C. .1. I*. Sellers. I!. Adamson. If. Holland. .1. -I. Melntiidi. M. 11. Houston and Air -I. Noble. Secretary and Treasurer: Mr U. •!. Kva ns.

Hon. Surgeons; Ors K. Teielielmanil. ,1. Urine Haird. 11. Al. Huchanau and C. 1,. Alandl. Starter: Air 11. Hutland. Ilamlic apper: Air -1. Noble (HeeftonU Time-keepers: Air -I. -I. Alelutosh. Mr M. 11. Iloiisioti and Air .1. Noble. Cate Steward : Air W. A. Jamieson. .liidiei.d Committee: Alessrs Willia ms. Alelutosh. AleUregor. Sellers and I lonMon. Clerk of Course: Air K. Fane, lion Clerk of Seales; Air A. AN. Ysirrall. Iloii. Deputv Clerk of Seales: Air C. J. I*. Sellers. Bu-,1 Cage Steward: Air -T. -I. Breeze. Till.ill-aloe SI e" a’ d : Air -I. F'ake. I, ua 0|,e,l to lot "at,! a letlel ol thank to Air W. A. Jamieson b>r his ,1-eful services as g,,U- si e" ard ; also to appreciate the ser''iees ol AlexM'S Keller and Brin e a - former members of die Como.it lee.

Tim stake- for the Chrislmax in.•cling. He.-. ■JPuh-'JTih. "etc fixed at £•_’.(i:::i. The priiieipal ■■vent. I lie Cu|>. "as lived at I. and the J l-t ndle lace al £; , n:t. .A hurdle lace is in-,-itided each day. No event at the in,■cling is less than £lHi>. 'l'he fee-; tor acceptances were reduced, the average cut ran, c being aboil) two tier cold. ~F iho slal Iferod. December ot It. was lix'sl as night of general entry, wei.-ln-; on U.-eeiuher (Itb. and a,"-pl-an, es for tlm til-t day. December IStli. The Secret at v reported in regard to the arrangements made lor the painting of the buildings. Approved. 7n regard to circulars from the X. X Baeing Conferem e. it was resolved In agree to the , oust i I lit ion ol that body as at present existing, ami to partii ipate in the (‘onlcivnec proimsed for a ,-iit of racing dates lor the autumn lixtmvs. ~ Mr>sis J.ilmsiiHM*. Ilsill snul II- I|’a irv "ere eleet-d members of the ( lilts'. , . A vole of thanks to the Chairman, concluded the meeting.