DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17686, 25 July 1919, Page 8

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB

.«. AJSN'UAIi MIiETLSIG. There was u, good mustor of members at the annual ineoLmg of the D. J .O. last night, iiio rotiriiig president (Mr Peter Miller) occupied tlio ohair. In moving tho adoption of the report, Mr Miller remarked that a great number of members had said in pubUo that tho committee had not been as progressive as it might have been in the past, but members should consider that from tho timo the olub shifted to Wingatui for 10 or 12 yeaxs it took the club all ita time to live. A.ll tho progress had been mado in tho last 10 years, and he did not think tho committee had lost uny opportunity of furthering the interests of tho club. A lot of improvements had been carried out, such as the erection of a new tota-lisutor building, new public stand, new mombers' Etand, caretaker's cottage, and tho installation of the water supply. Theso had cost £10,000. Any linancial improvement had come in the last 10 years. Never before this year had thoy approached £1500 for tho Dunedin Cup, or £1000 for the Steeplechase. One of tho most beneficial improvements intended was tho erection of an outside stand at tho north end, which would do away with the crowding into the birdcago at every race. Some people said moro should have been spent in stakes, but ho might tell them that tho money had all been made at tho last meeting—one of the most successful for racing, finance, and totalisator turnover. Ho had no hesitation in saying that tho committeo had spent all it could get and all it had ever mado. He had seen a good deal of the ups and downs of the club during many years, and he thought members had no reason to complain of the work of their stewards. The motion was seconded by Mr L. C. Hazlett, and carried unanimously. Mr E. H. Lough (treasurer) said he considered tho report was more than a mere statement of expenditure and receipts. It gave, in addition, a promise for the future which was written large with prosperity and progress. He proposed to quote figures showing the progress of the club durjng the last 10 years, four of which were war years, when the progress of the club practically ceased. —(A Voice: "The best year you had was during the war.") -The committee had decided as a war policy to keep racing going as well as it could, and to make donations to the patriotic funds. At the same time, the committee did not think it was justified in. running the club into debt in order to get large sums for war funds. It considered that its duty ceased in giving all it could and in making the sacrifice of forgoing improvements and conveniences at Wingatui. Mr Lough then ( went on to quote the following figures:— 1 Average amount per day given to the State I increased from £1041 to £1886; Dunedin i Cup, worth £400, increased to £1500 (now the third most valuable racing cup in New Zealand); Steeplechase, from £150 to £1000; average takings at gates per day, £334 to £852; fees for training horses, £24 to £76; , average stakes given in cups per day, £1266 [ to £1930 (1917-191S) and £2702 (1918-1919), resulting in a profit of £1160 at that meeting. The stakes at the winter meeting, he said, were raised from £952 10 years ago to ; £1590 in 1918, and £2500 at the last meetI ing, with the result that all records were broken on that occasion with a profit of i £3342. He thought, therefore, the club could claim to be the most progressive I racing club in New Zealand. The first I tilings wanted at Wingatui were ladies' retiring rooms and men's conveniences:— ("Hear, hear.") Two other problems to be \ faced were the provision for dining and afternoon tea rooms arid the arrangement J of members' stands. ! Mr V. S. Jacobs remarked that nothing had been said about membership. For a metropolitan club, he thought it was a dis--1 grace.—("Hear, hear.") He was surprised ' to see that there were only a dozen retailers who were members, as the club ; really put money into their pockets. If

tho position was put forcibly to them he thought the membership might be increased by 100. Mr A. Barnett, who assured members that he wished to be taken seriously, said he thought it was not right for stewards to have control of the distribution of whisky procured with club funds. Hβ had been told that as much as 24 cases had been brought on to the ground at one time, and if that was true it should have been evenly distributed.—(Loud laughter.) Was it a fact that members were invited in. that way? The- President: I think so. ; Mr Barnett: Well, then, that is entirely

• wrong. Every member who comes in should • be equally treated. Mr J. A. Ainge suggested that the mem- > bcrshjp might be increased if provision I were made' accommodating members' wives and friends by issuing tickets for ' seats, and only allowing entrance to tho ' stand by member's ticket. He complained about the present arrangement for entrance to the "bird-cage." The President replied that it was difficult to control that. If men were allowed ' access to the jockeys' room some would 1 probably have business there, arid some ■ might not. Tho stewards would not pre- ; vent any owner from going in to arrange for a jockey. If members had heard what had been stroightly told at the Racing Conference about the conduct of certain jockeys and trainers in the North Island, they would have been appalled. Mr S.S. Myers said the committee had only to set aside portion of the bird-caga for ■ owners, trainers, and boys engaged in I races. Some members left because they felt hurt at being ordered out. Mr R. L. Acton-Adams said that surely owners could give boys instructions half an hour before races. Once the totalisator opened, the less communication there was between owners or public and jockeys tho more likely would they be able to keep racing pure. Mr L. C. Hazlett remarked that any owner had only to speak to the secretary in order to get permission to speak to a jockey. Mr Todd: I went to pay a riding fee, and was ordered out Mr Hazlett: Then it was done under a misapprehension, and unknown to the stewards. Mr Murdoch: How is it that tho privilege is extended to many owners to be in the bird-cage while local owners are ordered out? The President: I am not aware of any ca.=e like that occurring. Mr Hazlett remarked that, according- to tho Racing Conference rules, only stewards were allowed entrance. Mr Murdoch: Why to that? On being asked to name a definite case in point, Mr Murdoch • said" ho had often seen ■ Dr .Robertson in, and had pointed him out to the secretary The President: If that was so. it -was quite wrong. In reply to Mr Todd, the President said that a small committee was in charge of the gatekeepers, and also had authority to order people from tho Ho could not give the names. Mr Fisher called, attention to tho possi- • bility of beautifying the grounds—ono of i tho most naturally beautiful spots in New r Zealand. \ Tho result of tho ballot for four mem- ( bors of committee was then announced, those- elected being:—Messrs Jas. Thomson - A r - S - Myers ' and a L - Christie. j Mt Jj.C. Hazlett was re-elected vice-presi-dent, and Mr G. M. Mac Lean auditor. j The President remarked thst he did not believe in <>no man monopolising- tho presi- \ dential position for too long, and ho had asked several members to accept nomina- ' tion. A meeting had boon held, at which J Mr A. C. Hanlon had been asked to accept nomination, and he (tho speaker) had ad- ' vised him that he would be only too pleased to relinquish the position to any member _ of the committee. Mr Hanlon would therefore be the future president.—(Applause) s Mr Hanlon. who was greeted with applauso, thanked members sincerely for his , election, and assured them ho would uso his best endeavours in'the interests of the , club. He recognised he was stepping into tao shoes of one who had done yeoman service for the club during- 30 years — ' ("Hear, hear.") He thought thero should bo a record of appreciation on the minutea and that Mr Miller should be elected an hon. life member by tho new committee He asked members to carry a hearty voto of thanks by acclamation. Continuing Mr Hanlon remarked that the committee had j been conservative in its policy to a certain » extent, because it was only lately that any considerable sum of money had come- into ite possession Judging by tho election, 1 their work had been approved. Ladies 5 retirins rooms, however, must be provided and tho dimng and tea rooms must bo i enlarged rmmodiately. Touching- on the question of complaints, he remarked thai ' it was not quite playing the game for momi bors to nurse grievances all tho year and then, at the annual meeting, say that snch 5 and 3uoh a thing had not been done The proper course was to put any complaint in writing and send it to tho sWetaryT