WESTLAND RACING CLUB

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1928, Page 2

WESTLAND RACING CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING. Tho annual meeting of the abovo Club was held at Mclntosh’s Club Rooms, Hamilton St., last evening at 8..'50 o’clock. Mr W. E. Willianw (I’rcyident) presided, and the following members were present: Messrs A. Jamieson, W. A. Jamieson, K. Lynn, C. J. R. Sellers, J. J. Mclntosh, J. Peake, T. Gillooly, D. J. Evans, H. T. Parry, W. Jeffries, 11. Butland, J. .1. Breeze, J. AV. 'Morris, J. L. Fowler, F. McGregor, A. W. Yarrall, It. Whiley, M. H. Houston, W. Hall, C. Morrison, W. A. Thompson, Hus Teiclielmann and Mandt and Hon H. L. Michel.

The minutes of the previous annual meeting were read and confirmed. A number of telegrams and letters from Clubs and sportsmen were read expressing sympathy with the Club in the recent loss by disastrous fire at tlio racecourse.—liocoived with thanks.

Mr J. Noble, Club’s liandicapper, wrote also expressing sympathy and stating lie would do the handicapping for next meeting without charge and hoped the Club would accept the offer. ANNUAL REPORT. Gentlemen, —1 have the honour to report that in consequence of the serious fire at the racecourse on the 11th ilist it was decided to close the financial year a month earlier than usual, and call the members of the Club together to consider the general position. The financial period, despite a very wet meeting at Easter, showed a profit of £B7 10s 5d for the year. The receipts were 114251 3s 7d and the expenditure £4103 13s 2d. The debit lmlance on the current account was reduced from £1615 12s Dd to £1528 2s 4d During the year the widening of the racing track for the full length of the straight, some two furlongs, was carried out, and the fencing and removal of the judge’s box was completed just prior to the unfortunate fire. The grounds were in excellent order. Attention had been devoted to tlie racing track, and it will be in good order for the season. The buildings, etc. had been kept in repair and in good order, and there was every reason to be justly proud of the fine appointments which had been provided.

During the year, the officers had all worked well, and the race meetings, even in adverse weather conditions, had passed off smoothly. The Caretaker (0. Fowler) had been closely attentive to his duties, and the eondi tion of everything in and about the course testified to bis faithful services. It was often thought that the worst ill-luck to attend the Club would he had weather conditons, but the visitation of the fire was by far the worse bad fortune that could overtake us. The two stands destroyed were in every way admirable for their purpose. AVcl anil faithfully built they were a fine asset and their structural condition at the time of destruction was excellent.

No expenditure was in sight for repairs for some time to come. The buildings and contents, which included the major part of the plant for conducting meetings in all their branches, were full

value for £4500. Indeed that sum today would not replace the property lost. Insurance is about half value so that the loss to the Club is substantial. A meeting of the Committee has been

held on the course, and the situation discussed. Mr D. Stevenson was consulted and he was asked to report as to a scheme to move the No. 2 (or out-

side) stand to the site of the destroyed main stand. It is proposed to add an addition of 30 feet to the stand on the western end to include (downstairs) stewards, press, secretary, weighing and jockeys rooms, with conveniences. Upstairs will he ordinary stand accommodation, with a portion partitioned off for stewards and officials. It is contemplated placing a balcony along the front of the enlarged portion, if not the entire length, to provide additional

stand accommodation. At the eastern end of the stand a one-storey refreshment room, 30 x 40 is proposed, with

kitchen attachment. These arrangements will provide very fair quarters, and though not approximating the former commodious quarters and conveniences, would meet the position very

well till time and circumstances justify further building arrangements. It wiT be possible to enlarge the bird-cage and give more facilities in that respect. It is proposed to place the removed stand on an alignment further hack than before, and build up an approach, providing a graded stand for those on the ground to watch the racing. These building costs with equipment it wil be necessary to procure, will cost : ■ i Clsoo to £I6OO. There will bo a surplus from the insurance money to reduce flic guaranteed bank overdraft to £SOO, and to make some small pro rata reduction in the debenture debt which would relieve the funds of 1 utlire interest charges on that account. These proposals, if given effect to, will enable the Club to carry on without any serious diminished prestige in catering for the sport, and the public will be catered for as efficiently as possible as heretofore.

The Club has had many expressions of sympathy and it is evident considerable outside interest is taken in its fortunes. It may be expected therefore that the public patronage will be well

sustained, and as the safety of the course will not lie impaired in any way, and as the usual conveniences will be

provided for owners, trainers, and riders, it may be expected, also, that the support of the racing 1 paternity will not he diminished. It may he necessary to safeguard the immediate financial position, to revise the stakes to some extent, and make some saving in that respect, hut whatever is done will not he of a permanent nature but merely to tide over a difficult position. In order to meet obligations likely to he incurred by the reinstatement scheme, a profit must he realised at the 'forthcoming meeting, and it is felt that owners and public alike will he only too pleased in the circumstances to lend a helping hand by making the fixture a notable financial success and so give the Club a fresh start on encouraging lines. There will be opportunity to elaborate these points at thmeeting, and in the meantime the proposals as outlined are commended to the earnest consideration of members. Received with marks of appreciation.

BALANCE SHEET.

The balance sheet showed, receipts £4251 3s 7d. The subscriptions totalled £lO7 Is 3d, nominations and accepancos £527 IBs, privileges £1094 14s, rents and miscellaneous £ll4, refund of totalise tor duty £247 12s lfid, total isator (gross) £2,099 17s 6d. The debit balance was £1,528 2s 4d as against £1,615 12s 9d the prevoius year. Tho principal items of expenditure were: Stakes £2140, course improvements £256 19s 0(1, Government taxes £lOl9 8s Id less recoveries from owners and dividends £998 11s (kl. Conference levies and eliurges £IOB 11s Bd, rates and insurance £76 14s Bd, interest £233 12s sd, expenses of race meetings £322 10s Gd, totalisator management £290 3s Oil. Profit and loss account showed a surplus of £B7 10s sd, the revenue being £4,251 3s 7<l, and the expenditure £4,163 13s 2d. The assets (before tile fire) were valued at £5,880 10s and the liabilities £4,903 2s 4cL— Received and laid on the table. —Received and laid on the' table for discussion.

Tho Presiont said ho was pleased to see such a good attendance and welcomed the new faces at their annual

meeting. The Club had had three serious visitations. There was first the unroofing of the main grand stand by a whirlwind which cost a large sum to restore. Next came the unroofing of tho totalisator house by a cyclone, and further heavy expense had to he faced. Now there was the serious loss by the lire in their minds. Still, the position might have been worse. People had been very kind, and the Club had sympathy expressed with it on all sides. Mr Williams referred to the operations of the past year, and it was satisfactory in the face of tho had weather experienced at the race meeting at Easter, that the Club had emerged with a profit for the year. He paid a tribute to the Caretaker and bis good work. Now they had to face the position caused by the loss sustained over the fire. One proposal was that they should try and get an extra day at Easter. The general proposals for providing stand accommodation was before them, and the arrangements suggested while not approaching the previous excellent conditions, would enable the Club to carry on with a fair measure of comfort and convenience lor all concerned. It was intended to conserve expenditure as much as possible, and whatever reduction in the funded debt of the club which could he made, would ho done. He was pleased to see Hon. Michel and -Messrs Breeze and Thompson with them that evening. The three gentlemen had been associated with the Club over 50 years ago, and their interest had been well sustained. Mr Williams concluded by inviting a general discussion of the Club’s position.

Dr Teiclielmann said lie agreed with the suggestions for meeting the posi-' tion outlined in the report. They should provide an interim construction to carry on for a few years .during which tiiey could build up the fortunes of the Club. From a sporting point of view they could expect outside support and useful financial assistance.

Mr J. J. Breeze thought the Club had done wonders with the support it had from the townspeople. More of tho business people should be associated with the Club. The Club had done the town good service in spite of the past had luck.

Hon. 11. L. Michel was glad to associate himself with what had been said about the position. He had been advised that an enquiry was desired into the fire, and as Chairman of tho Fire Board, he had communicated with the Magistrate on the matter. He thought the proposals to tide over the difficulties of the Club would meet the position very fairly till the Club was able to build more commodious quarters. Personally he had seen the Club’s fortunes in darker days. He felt that in a great measure they could take a hopeful view of the future. They could certainly carry on with one stand for a time, thus saving heavy building costs now. The sympathy expressed outside the district was inspiring. He thought with good weather at Christmas they would have no cause to take a pessimistic view of the situation. It appeared to him the Club would he able to carry on as vigorously as before under tho proposals outlined in the report before them. -Mr W. A. Thmopson was pleased to be present at such a representative gathering of sportsmen. He was also gratified with the report in the circumstances. and if carried out as proposed there would be nothing seriously detrimental to the sport. He hoped the Club would now enter on a liow era.. He would like to see the local tradespeople taking ail active interest in the affairs of the Club. He hoped tho Club would be able to carry on and continue successful meetings, despite the burden of the heavy taxation bearing on the

sport. Mr W. Jeffries thought the Club was to he sympathised with in its financial plight. It was a difficult positioned and they should seek some practical way out of their difficulties. He favoured endeavouring to hold their next meeting at Christchurch. When there lately several had spoken to him on the matter, and he felt it would he a great success. Instances were given of outside meetings held at Riccarton to the advantage of the Club’s benefitted. He thought such a meeting could be held early in December. Ho felt that the local owners would lend their support. He made some suggestions about the rebuilding of stand accommodation so that there would be a raised approach. The bad luck which had attended the Club would be met in good measure by an effort to race elsewhere. They certainly had a very legitimate claim for favourable consideration.

Mr R. Whilev agreed with the previous speaker to. a certain extent. Whatever was done in the way of rebuilding should he done on the most economical lines. He thought they could hold a successful meeting at Christchurch.

Mr J. J. Mclntosh felt that the proposal to hold a meeting at Riccarton, if it could ho arranged, would he a great assistance to the Club. Hon. H. L. Michel thought there would he difficulty in seeking permission to race off the Const and instanced a case where objections had been raised from an unexpected quarter. Mr H. T. Parry expressed pleasure with the optimism shown in the report and by the speakers, and felt that .the Club would emerge from its difficulties satisfactorily.

Mr D. J. Evans indicated the pro--1 cedure necessary in seeking to race at Riccarton, and thought there would be difficulties in the way. There was also risk and uncertainty. The question of a suitable date would he a problem. Personally he favoured carrying on on their course, and as the Club would he helping the town, no doubt the town and district would respond and help the Club. He gave an outline of what tho Country Clubs Association was endeavouring to do with regard to more relief from taxation. Several of the Clubs in the Association were co-opera-ting in the matter, and he was not without hope that some relief would lr forthcoming. He regarded the scheme proposed in respect to reconstruction ns the most feasible, and economical the Club could undertake. There would he considerable stand room provided, and the administrative quarters would he quite up to standard and in every way convenient for the smooth race meetings. The refreshment room space would not lie as commodious as before, but there would he a fair amount of room and it would he possible to meet all demands. He thought the Club would have a fair claim for an extra day next racing season. There were two floating permits for allocation. This year they were both being used in the North Island, and when allocation was again considered the Westland claim would carry some priority, lie thought, because apart from the present serious position, they had in previous years been recommended for consideration. A second day for an Easter meeting would help the Club financially. Dr Mandl suggested that the proposals under discussion might be relerred to the Committee to go into air 1 see what could ho (lone. This was adopted, and the matter was referred to the in-coming Committee to consider at an early meeting. Tho report and balance sheet were then adopted on the voices. Mr Breeze moved, and Hon. Michel ■seconded that the retiring Committee ho re-elected as follows:—R. Adamson, H. Bntland, D. J. Evans, M. H. Houston, F. McGregor, J. J. Mclntosh, C. S. Neville, R. While,v, IV, E. Williams, A. W. Yaitall,

SPECIAL BUSINESS. A resolution adopted on January 12, 1922, defining tho powers of Racecourse Inspectors on the racecourse was rescinded. A motion was carried appointing Messrs A. Ward, R. G. Black, F. Cullen, and J. Torrance with any others who may he appointed, to remove'any person from the Hokitika racecourse, who commits a breach of any regulation under the Gaming Act, 1908, or any undesirable, and empowering those named to give any requisite notices and warnings to any persons whom it is intended and desired to remove.

NEW MEMBERS. The following new members were elected: J. Croawell (Ilarihari), J. McIntosh, jnr., Arnold Thompson, H. Lewis (Ilarihari), J. S. Langford, H. A!. Coulson. The general business being coneluded, the health of the President (Mr Williams), Air W. A. Thompson (the Father of tho Club), and the Secretary (Mr Evans) were toasted and acknowledged.