KEREPEEHI SPORTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4631, 28 November 1923, Page 4

KEREPEEHI SPORTS.

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. A general meeting of the Keiepeehi Sports Association was held in the Kerepeehi Hall on Monday evening. There was an attendance of about sixteen, and in the absence of the president Mr Booth was elected to the chair. Mr Booth said that a meeting had been held some, time ago .for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing year and tp receive the annual report and balance-sheet, but ow'iig to the poor attendance the meeting had been adjourned. Tn dealing with the balance-sheet the secretary compared it with that of the previous year. Owing to the state of the weather and other factors the last sports meeting was not as s.atis'faotory as the previous one. Vicepresidents’ subscriptions had been reduced, consequently the amount received was only £9 15s compared witn £43 Is. Entry fees showed a. drop from £4l 19s 6d to £29 4s, and gate receipts a drop from £6o’ 18s to £42 13s Bd. A dance was held the previous year resulting in a profit of £7 Is 4d. whereas a dance could not be held last time as the hall was being shifted at the time. This year the association had done the catering and had made a profit of about £5O. The credit balance at the end of last year was £44 6s sd, while at present it was only £5 7s lOd. Asked the position in regal’d, to the interference of the police at the last meeting the chairman said that tlie time had passed in which they could take action. The secretary said that prior to the sports’ meeting written to the Racing Association submitting the programme. They had not considered the sports an illegal race meeting. B/ an oversight the Trotting Association had not been approached, and in view of the action taken by the police on the day of the meeting they had disqualified a horse that had later won a race at a registered meeting, The association had received legal advice that the action could not succeed. The chairman spid that in view of th'? legal opinion, the sanction of the Racing Association, and the lack of action by the police., he consideredthat, the association would be on sale ground in continuing to hold the sports. In his opinion it would be a pity to let the meeting slide. Mr Hoff supported the holding of the sports, but said that it would be Inadvisable unless the question as to whether it was an illegal race meeting was settled. Mr J. Twist said that three years ago a similar meeting had been held, and though the police were present! no action was taken. In his opinion everything had been done to define the position, and nothing had been ■ ascertained to the effect that the meeting was illegal. The secretary said that at the last meeting the police constable had taken the names of entrants as soon as they' were given in to the secretary. and he had every opportunity to prosecute if he wished to. The chairman stated that it was wrong of the constable to take the names of competitors before they committed the alleged offence. The constable had exceeded his duty. Mr Masters advocated holding the meeting as usual. Mr Jenkins moved, and Mr Hoff seconded, that the sports meeting be hold this year as in past years.—Carried. Mr Masters moved that the secretary communicate with the Trotting Association and ask its ruling. The secretary said that this had been done, but no reply had been received. It was decided that if no reply be received within seven days the secretary should take up the matter as suggested. It was also decided that a. deputation, comprising Messrs J. H. Nicholson (president), J. Twist (secretary), R. Shilton, and J. Jenkins, wait upon the Minister of Internal Affairs when he visited the district and endeavour to reach sorqe finality in the matter. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mr J. H. Nicholson was unanimously appointed president. Mr J. Twist was unanimpusly appointed secretary and treasurer, witn power to appoint an assistant secretary. ■ The following executive committee was appointed: Messrs E. S. Masters, j. Kidd, W. Herkt, J. Murdock;, J. Jenkins, H. Hoffi, W. Shilton, R. Shilton, J. Mitchell, J. A- G. Wilson, B. Frccklington, P. Henry, Fawcett Bros., W. Booth, J. Thompson, R. L. Davis, J. Mclntosh, A. Fisher, H. K. Peterson. A. J. Innes, G. Avey-, H. D. Jamieson, T. Scott, D. G. McMillan, Jury, R. Hunter, R. Hutchinson, W. Thompson, and L. A. W. Bagnall. It was decided that six members should form a quorum. Vice-president’s fees were fixed at 10s 6d. It was pointed out that a vice-president became a member of the executive. The appointment of ' vice-presidents was left to the secretary.. Membership fees were fixed at) ss, and it was decided that only financial members should be permitted to vote i on any financial inattei- affecting the association. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.