FOXTON RACING CLUB

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2613, 31 July 1923, Page 3

FOXTON RACING CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meetng of members of the Foxton Racing Club was held in the Town Hall supper-room last evening the president (Mr J. RWhyte) presiding over an attendance of 87 members. The chairman expressed pleasure at the good attendance and before proceeding with the business referred to the loss the Club had sustained by the deaths of Messrs W. Bock and R. Nimmo. The president moved a vote of condolence with the relatives, the members standing in silence as a mark of respect.

The president, in moving the adoption of the report and balancesheet (which has already appeared in these columns) congratulated the club on its sound financial position, despite certain set-backs it was able to show a 7irofit of £336 10s sd, with no liabilities and assets which totalled nearly £5,000 (applause). The past year had been the most important in the history of the Club, signalising 60 years of racing locally —the Club’s diamond jubilee. To mark the occasion the Racecourse Trustees presented a silver cup and in this connection special praise was due to Mr John Kebbell (chairman of the Trustees). Unfortunately the fire which destroyed the club’s records about four years ago, ' also destroyed valuable authentic records in connection with tho club’s operations. Mr Kebbell had informed him that races had been held locally prior to 1863 at irregular intervals and he remembered a meeting on St. Patrick’s Day, 1860. Last year’s meeting had been marred by rain, particularly on the second day, but despite this drawback, the meeting had been a financial success. The stakes paid last year were £2,780 as against £3,000 in 1922 and £3,700 in 1921. The receipts dropped from £9,129 the previous year to £5,402 last year. The Government taxation amounted to £3,106 of which the club contributed £1079, the general public £1,744 and the horse owners £282. Mr Whyte referred to the agitation for a reduction in taxitation and the proposed amendment to the Act. Such proposed reduction, if applied to a two days meeting would effect a i saving to the local club of £12,060. Since last meeting they had widened the straight to the full width of the c-ourse. They also proposed to make additions to the bird-cage and erect up-to-date offices on their property in Main Street, which members, no doubt, would appreciate. Regret was expressed at the departure of Mr L. Freeman, who had been an energetic and capable secretary of the Club for three years. He was sure, however, that they had a worthy successor in Mr D. Ogilvv (applause). Mr Whyte also congratulated the. Club on the honour conferred upon it by the Country Racing Clubs’ Conference, which had elected one of Foxtoifs members, Mr W. T. Jewell, as its jftesident.

In seconding the motion for the adoption of the report, Mr Jewell referred to the handicap the dnb suffered through excessive taxation. He mentioned that in the Bill before Parliament 40 to 50 new permits were proposed to be issuel, but these would go to those clubs which had only one day meetings or those which were in course of formation. Representations had been made to the Minister in charge of the Bill and permission to have the claims of Foxton inserted for extra race days. Mr Jewell also gave a brief report of the Country Clubs’ Conference. He said one of the important motions carried was that in future all country clubs must race on their own courses or forfeit their totalisator permits. It was also decided that if a permit does fall in such permit belongs to the district in which it has lapsed. He was sure a good profit would be made if Foxton had an extra meeting. The Prime Minister appeared favourable to a more liberal treatment to country clubs. Another point was the agitation in favour of telegraphing totalisator investments and the publication of dividends. A strong claim had been made for a local steeplechase meeting and there .was a possibility of obtaining same in the future. Mi 1 Jewell expressed appreciation of the services rendered by Mr Barber, his fellow delegate, who had given very valuable assistance and advice at the Conference. Mr Massey said the unclaimed dividends should become the property of the club and not the totalisator proprietors. In reply Mr Jewell said the club had made enquiries on this point hut no finality had been reached. Mr Massey said that a certain firm of totalisator proprietors were prepared to work under this condition. The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Patron: Mr Frank Robinson; president, Mr J. R. Whyte; vicepresidents: Messrs W. E. Barber, G. C. Coley, 0. R. Robinson, C. E. Robinson (all re-elected); auditor Mr A. Fraser (re-elected). A ballot was taken for the election of three stewards and. resulted hi the election of Messrs W. T. Jewell, J. Purcell, and A. N. Smith. The voting was as follows: V. E. Bryant 11; S. J. Easton, 29; W. T. Jewell, 82; J. Purcell, 59; E. Parkin 12; R. Rangiheuea 36; A. N. Smith 53. In returning thanks for his reelection, the president said he had thought of retiring, but so many members had waited ou him that

he had consented to stand once again. He was pleased after so many years of office that he still held the confidence of members, many of whom had known him since boyhood. Messrs Jewell, Purcell and Smith also returned thanks. TAXATION REDUCTIONS. On the motion of Mr W. T. Jewell, seconded by Mr Jackson, it was resolved: “That this annual meeting of the Foxton Racing Club strongly disapproves of the method proposed by Sir George Clifford for the reduction of stakes and dividends, since such a course would not relieve the financial position of clubs in any way. This meeting is emphatically .of the opinion that a reduction should be made in the totalisator and amusement taxes, as these are home directly by clubs and are directly responsible for the difficult financial position in which many country clubs find themselves. Further, that this Club supports the Garnaru Jockey Club in its proposal that in the event of the Government not being prepared to forego the whole of the totalisator and a--musement taxes a graduated tax be imposed on clubs whereby the first £2,500 invested on the tote should be exempt from the tax.” It was decided that copies of this resolution be sent to members of Parliament.

Mr Massey proposed and Mr Admore seconded and it was carried: “That it be an instruction to the management committee that when making arrangements for the toalisator the person or persons so appointed should be required to deliver up to the Club all unclaimed dividends.”

The caretaker (Mr L. Procter) was voted a bonus of £lO 10/- on the motion of Messrs Bowe and A. X. Smith.

An amendment moved by Messrs Simmons and Wilton that the bonus be £5 5s was lost. (hi the motion of Mr A. N. Smith it was decided to write to the Racecourse Trustees thanking them for the donation of the cup especially mentioning the name of Mr John Kebbell.

The following new members were elected :—Messrs Preston, Schultz. J. Coley, junr., A. W. Empsoii, S. Austin, G. Rough, W. Trueman, and R. Bowe.

Votes of sympathy were passed to Messrs Coley and Bryant, with the expression of hopes for their o, vdv recovery.

At the conclusion of the meeting the members were-entertained at a buhl -upper.