FOXTON RACING CLUB

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3675, 9 August 1927, Page 2

FOXTON RACING CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Foxton Racing Club was held in the Town Hall supper-room last evening, presided over by the President (Mr J. R. Whyte). There was an attendance of thirty members. MOTION OF CONDOLENCE. Prior to opening the meeting the President moved a motion of condolence to the relatives of the late Mr. Geo. Coley, and in doing so remarked that the late Mr. George Coley bad been one of the stewards and a member of the Club for many years, and was one of its most active members. His loss would be very much felt. The motion was passed in the usu'al manner. REVIEW OF PAST SEASON.

In bis opening remarks the President said that he could add little to the full report already circulated by the Committee. It was not to be expected that the Club would escape the depression that was general and which was felt to a greater extent by many of the smaller country clubs. Their receipts for the year from all sources totalled £5,073, which was £877 less than the receipts for the previous year. This decrease was due, mainly, to the shrinkage in the totalisator returns the gross receipts being £2,978, as against £3,072 for the year ending 30th June, 1926, a difference of approximately £7OO. The gate returns had also shown a decrease of £l2O, the cards £24, and the subscriptions received from members had been £2B less than the previous year. The stakes for the past meeting had been reduced by £3O, and when framing the programme for.the next meeting the incoming committee should give full consideration to the advisability of further reducing the stakes. The Club had also been put to additional expense during the past year in removing the stumps that were cropping up in various parts of fhe ground hut now that this trouble had been dealt with little trouble in this connection was anticipated in the future. When the difficulties which had confronted the club during the past season were taken into consideration the President contended that there was no reason for pessimism, hut, on the other hand, he felt sure that the Club could face the future with confidence provided careful management was exercised and a strict vigilance kept over general expenditure. Mr Whyte also look the ■opportunity of recording the Club’s appreciation of Mrs Austin-Jolm-ston’s generosity in donating a handsome silver cup to the winner of the principal ev<snt at the last meeting'. He also said a word of praise was due to the caretaker (Air Simpson), who had carried out his work in a very satisfactory manner. It was very gratifying to find that horses trained on the For ton track have had their full share of success. In conclusion, the President thanked the officials for the close attention they had paid to their respective duties and to the secretary tor liis assistance, which had made the position of President an exceedingly easy one to fill. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The President then moved the adoption of the report and balancesheet (which have previously been published in the “Herald), which was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The election of officers resulted as follows: —

Patron: F. Robinson Esq. (reelected) ; President AAR E. Barber (elected unopposed); vice-pre-sidents; Messrs R. Bryant, H. Coley, AV. T. Jewell, C. E. Robinson; Stewards: Messrs S. Austin, H. Robinson, S. Jackson, C. A. Pearson (these were elected to fill the vacancies caused by the annual, retirement of stewards); auditor: Mr. A. Fraser.

LETTER OF CONGRATULATION. On the motion of Mr. W. E. Barber it was decided to send a letter of congratulation to Mr. A. Wright, the trainer of Nukumai on that horse’s fine performance at the Wellington meeting. MINISTER AND DATE’S COAIMITTEE.

Mr. AV. T. Jewell referred to the Minister of Internal Affair’s action in overriding the decision of the Dates Committee in connection with Waikato Racing Club.

He considered that it was an undesirable state of affairs when a Minister could override the decisions made by the Racing Conference. The Racing Conference were composed of men who gave a great deal of time and consideration to the allocation of racing dates and were more competent to deal with the same than any Minister or politician. It was in the interest of the sport to keep it entirely free from political influence. He moved that this annual meeting of the Foxton Racing Club is decidedly of the opinion that the allocation of racing dates should remain with the New Zealand Racing Conference and that a copy of this resolution he forwarded to the Conference.— Carried.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the members who constituted the deputations in regard to having the dates on January 21st and 23rd adhered to as against the claim of the Pahiatua Racing Club to get in before this Club. NEW MEMBERS. The following new members were elected: — Messrs E. Goodman, C. Pritchard, G. S. Smith and M. Robinson. Before vacating the chair, Mr. Whyte congratulated Mr. AV. E. Barber on being elected president.

He also thanked the stewards and members for the hearty support aeoorded him during his long term as president, Air Ogilvy, secretary, who had made his duties so much lighter, and had kept him posted in all matters connected with the Club, and the “Herald” for impartial reports given all Club meetings. Mr AV. E. Barber returned thanks for his election as President, which concluded the meeting.

PRESENTATION TO J. R. AA 7| HYTE, ESQ,

At the conclusion of the annual meeting, the members adjourned to the Club’s office to do honour to the retiring president, Mr J. R. Whyte and to present him with a token of esteem. Mr W. E. Barber (President) referred to Mr Whyte’s long association with the Club, extending over a period of 40 years. Mr Whyte had filled the offices of steward, secretary, judge and president and in all these positions he had carried out his duties conscientiously and by his fairness and approachable manner, had won the esteem not only of chib members, but all associated with the local meetings. Pic had watched the club develop from obscurity to one of the leading country clubs in the Dominion. ITis services had been recognised by the club in that he had occupied the highest position that members could confer and was now a life member, tie felt sure that Mr Whyte would continue to take an active interest in the club. On behalf of the members, he had pleasure in asking their late president to accept an oak smoker’s cabinet as a token of esteem (applause).

Mr Jewell also endorsed the Pre sidcnl’s remarks.

Mr Whyte feelingly acknowledged the kindly, remarks of the speakers and thanked the club for its tangible expression of esteem. Mr Whyte then traced the history of the club and related some amusing reminiscences, after which the recipient’s health was drunk with musical honours.

Several of the older members of the club also spoke of the old time meetings, when the rules of racing were not so well defined as to-day.