WESTLAND TROTTING CLUB

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1931, Page 5

WESTLAND TROTTING CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12. The annual meeting of members of the Westland Trotting Club was held in the Club rooms at 8 o’clock. The President, Mr F. McGregor, presided over a fair attendance of members. The minutes of the last annual meet* ing were read and confirmed. ANNUAL REPORT. The secretary, Mr ,M. H. Houston, read the following rep.ort of the President : I have pleasure in submitting herewith for your consideration the annual report and statement of receipts and expenditure for the past year. J At the last annual meeting the members present elected the following gentlemen as an executive for the year viz:—Messrs' F. McGregor, J. J. Breeze, junr., J. J. Mclntosh, M. Houston, C. J. P. Sellers, A, W, Yarrall, R.’ Whiley, J. Stafford, 0. S. Neville, W. E, Richards, E. W. Heeuan, D. R. Dowell, J. J. Mclntosh, junr., and H. Newman, and it is pleas, ing to report that all these members took a very active interest in the conduct of the Club’s affairs.

The annual race meeting of the Club was fixed for Saturday, 3rd January, 1931, but unfortunately the weather was so exceedingly boisterous thab.it was impossible to hold the meeting, which accordingly had to be postponed Your Committee favoured holding the meeting on the Monday following, afl ( j used every endeavour to persuade Die Greymouth Trotting Club to forego this date in our favour, but I regret that our sister Club was unable to accede to the request. It was, therefore decided to hold the raecs on Wednesday, 7th January, which was the Reefton Racing Club’s first day, and an effort was made to get that Club to go forward one day, which however, they would not agree to do, and both Clubs therefore, raced on the same' day. This proved to be a disastrous proceedu remand as a consequence both the gate receipts and the totalisator turnover of this Club suffered very materially; the sum of £132 Is 6d was taken at the gates as against £2lB 17s the previous year—a' decline of £96, whilst the sum of £4363 10s was put through the totalisator as against £7750 10s the previous year—a decrease of £3387. The loss in totalisat. or commission was, therefore, ove? £2OO, and with the decrease in gate receipts and lesser amounts received from sale of privileges, it was only to be expected that a substantial loss would be made on the meeting. However sufficient funds were in hand to pay the Stakes and Government Taxes in full, and several members were good enough to pay three years subscription fees 1 in advance, thus enabling the Club to meet its most pressing lia. bilitiesi !

it is quite apparent that soiile tlefin*. ite agreement should be uH'ived at be» tween the West Coast Racing and Trotting Clubfi in rogiu'd to any postpone” mentis that may occur owing to inclement weather during the Christmas and New Year Racing Circuit, as a similar occurrence may take place in the future .and on account of the proximity of the Clubs on the Coast it is quite inadvisable to hold two race meetings on the same day. Mr G. R. Sampson attended the meeting as Stipendiary Steward ana reported favourably on the conduct of the meeting, whilst Mr Noble carried out the duties of handicapper in his usual competent manner. The Refresheinent Rooms were conducted on behalf of the Club by lady supporters under the management of Mrs 0. Fowler and the Club is much indebted to the ladies for their generous assistance over many years.

Mr I). J. Evans represented the Club at the Annual Trotting Conference in Wellington in July last, and the thanks of the Club are due to him in this connection.

The Club’s next race meeting will be held on Monday, 4th January, 1932, and it will be necessary to draw up a programme for same immediately. 1 wish to express the Club’s thanks to the Westland Licensed Victuallers for their kind donation of a silver cup to the Winner of the Westland Handicap, to Messrs J. Noble and H. Butland who acted a.s Handicapper and Starter respectively, to the Municipal Band for supplying a programme of .music, to Mr W. A. Jamieson who acted as honorary gate steward and to all others who so willingly gave their assistance at the meeting. The annual balance sheet was also read and the report and balance sheet adopted. The election of Committee resulted in the re-election of the old Committee. The meeting then adjourned.

COMMITTEE MEETING. The new Committee then met. The following officers were elected : President: Mr F. McGregor. Vice-Presidents: Messrs R. Whiley, A. W. Yarrall, and J. J. Mclntosh., Judge: Mr R. Whiley. Deputy-Judge: Mr C. S. Neville. Time-keepers : Messrs J. Noble, J. J. Breeze, and J. 'Stafford. Handicapper : Mr J. Noble. Starter : Mr H. Butland. Bird Cage Steward : Mr E. W; Heenan. Committee: Messrs F. McGregor, J. J. Breeze, Junr., CJ.iS. Neville, J. J. Mclntosh, M. H. Houston, W. E. Richards, C. J. P. Sellers, A. W. Yarrall, IE. W. Heenan, R. Whiley, J. Stafford, D. R. Dowell, J. J. Mclntosh (Junr.), and H. Newman. Clerk of Course : 'Mr F. Fane. Clerk of Scales: Mr C. J. P. Sellers. Deputy Clerk of Scales; Mr A. W. Yarrall. Hon. Surgeons : Dr Teichelmann, Dr Mandl, Dr B. Wilson and Dr Hart. • Stewards'; The Committee.

Gate Steward : Mr iW. A. Jamieson. Judicial Committee: Messrs W. E. Williams, D. J. Evans, F. McGregor, J. J. Mclntosh, M. H. Houston. A programme was drawn up for the annual meeting to be held on Monday 4th January, 1932, with stakes amounting to £6OO. Various formal matters were dealt with apd the meeting adjourned.