FOXTON RACING CLUB.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2165, 19 August 1920, Page 3

FOXTON RACING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of members of the Pox ton Racing Club was held in the Council Chamber on Tuesday evening. There was an attendance of 50 members, and the president (Mr J. R. W byte) presided. The annual report, which lias already appeared in these columns, was read. In moving the adoption of same, the chairman said J hatowing to all the books and records of the Club having been lost.in the lire which destroyed the Club’s office a few months back, the Committee Avas unable to present a bal-ance-sheet, but had shown the financial position of the Club as at July 31st last. In aocw of liie unfortunate circumstances, the. Racing Conference bad agreed to accept this statement in lieu of the balance-sheet. The statement showed the Chili to be in a sound financial position. The last race meeting held by (he Chib bad been, Avitlimit exception, the most successful in its history, the lolaiisator returns totalling £57,009. The taxes paid to the Government for the year amounted to approximately £3,000. During the year the Committee had entered on a progressive policy, and had made extensive alterations and improvements to the buildings and ground. In conclusion, Ah; Whyte thanked the retiring officials for the interest taken in the Club’s affairs dinting the past year, and also ex- . pressed on behalf of the Committee their 'appreciation of the services rendered by Air Freeman, the act-ing-secret ary, since the (ire, in straightening up the affairs of the Club. The motion was seconded by Mr H. Coley, and carried. The election of officers was the next business. Air Beveridge said that according to the rules only financial members Avere entitled to vole, find be asked if all present Avere financial. The president said ail in attendance Avere financial. Air BcAeridge pointed out that the racing year ended on July 31st, and according to that- members, in order to he financial, should have paid their subscriptions for the current year. The president said that the procedure adopted by all clubs avu.s (•hat all members who had paid their subscriptions for the previous year Avert* entitled to record their votes at the annual meetings. All in attendance had paid their subscriptions last year, and Avere therefore entitled to vote. Air Beveridge asked* Avhat the position of riOAv members was. The president said that until they Avere elected ys members they could not vote. The election of’new members Avould not lake place until after the election of officers, and therefore these iicav members could not vote at the present election. The election of officers was then proceeded with, the following being elected unopposed; Patron, Air Erafik Robinson; president, Mr J. R. Whvte; A’ice-presidents. Messrs C. E. Robinson. 0. Robinson, W. E. Barber, and Dr. Aland!: treasurer, Air R. Bryant; clerk of scales, Air J, V. Burr; timekeeper, Air A. J. Mahon. For the Committee there Avere 14 nominations for nine seats, and an election avus held. The result of the Imllot Avas as folloAvs : — Bryant, 51 Hammond, 51 JcAvell, 50 Coley, 11., 49 Purcell, 4J Coley, 6. C., 45 Burr, 42 Petrie, 41 Green, 29 All elected. Whibley, 25 Easton, S. J., 21 Perreau, 14 Easton, A. P., 13 Smith, 13 In accordance with notice previously given, Air Jcavcll moved to rescind rule 8 of the Club’s rules, Avhich reads as folloAvs; “I’lie honorary officials and steAvards shall retire annually, and successors to them he elected at the annual meeting. The retiring officials shall be eligible for immediate re-election, ’’ and to substitute the following:“At every annual meeting three of [lie members of the Committee, being those who have been longest in office Avithout re-election, shall retire, but shall be eligible for re-election; the remaining members of the Committee shall remain in office for the TolloAving year, Avithout re-election. If there shall be a doubt on any occasion as to Avhich of the members of the Committee shall retire under this rule, the question shall be decided by lot, the method of lot to be decided by the presiding, officer of the Club.” Mr JeAvell said a similar rule to the one proposed avus in operation in most of the Clubs in the Dominion, and avus found most satisfae tory. Air Whibley opposed the proposal, contending that to carry same would make the Club practically a close corporation, as it Avould be most difficult to get iicav blood on the Committee. He considered the aim of the Club should be to encourage the members to lake a keener interest in its affairs, and in his opinion the carrying of this proposal would have the opposite effect. In reply, Air Jewell Said that a similar rule to the one .proposed worked satisfactorily in all the bigger clubs. Under the existing rule it was possible for all the old slcavards to be defeated at one election, and it would not be a good thing To have a complete new set of officers at one tilne.

The motion, on being put, was carried by 33 votes to 12. Mr Jewell also moved to amend two rules in connection with the training track, and this was agreed to without discussion.

Mr Whibley pointed out that the Club's rules were obsolete, and moved that a Committee consisting of Messrs IV. E. Barber, Bryant, and Jewell .be set up to draft a new set of rules to govern the Club, and that a special general meeting of members be convened, to finally consider and adopt same. This was seconded by Mr Jewell, and carried. The following new members were elected: —Messrs W. Adams, W.

Bowe, J. Bniek, D. .Christie, T. Davcy, S. Hudson, C. England, C. T. Edwards, 11. Hughes, T. W. Hunt, P. J. Jack, V. Jewell, W. Kirkland, A. Lawson, Cecil Morgan, P. Lingard. P. Mills, L. Podmore, T. Pigott, C. Price,S. Reeve, Cecil Robinson, Hersloti Robinson, F. Raikes, P. Setter, R-. N. Speirs, A. Stevenson, N. Skipwith, P. L. Sim, L. Ward,- B. Walls. C. Wadley, E. V. West, Cl. Woodruofe, and IT. L. Young. Mr Smith asked if any steps had been taken by (he Committee to endeavour to gel another day’s racing for the Club.

Mr Jewell said tiiat this matter had not been overlooked by the Commit ice, and if it was possible to get another day members could rest assured this would be done.

Air Whibley brought up the question of registering (lie Club under the Unclassified Societies Act, and surprise avus expressed that the Chib had not been registered. The- Chairman said that steps Avere being taken to have the Club registered. Mr Perreau, on behalf of the Fire Brigade, made application for a grant towards their funds.

Air Jcavcll said he was under the impression that at a meeting of stewards last season a donation avus made.

The Chairman said the matter would be considered by the iicav Committee.

A vote of thanljs to the chair concluded the meeting.

A meeting* of (he new Committee* was held at the conclusion of the annual meeting, when all the newly elected officer,*s were present.

Mr L. Freeman, Avho lias been of-

ficiating as acting-secretary since March last, was appointed permanently to the position at a salary of £126 per annum and free bouse.

A telegram was read from the secretary of (he Wanganui Jockey Club, advising that the President ot the Racing Conference avus meeting the. Prime Alinister at Wellington on Thursday( this day) morning, tourge some relief from the payment of income tax by racing clubs., and the Foxton Club be represented. Messrs Freeman and Jewell were appointed to represent the Foxton Club.