FRANKLIN RAGING CLUB

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 554, 3 August 1920, Page 2

FRANKLIN RAGING CLUB

FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. The first annual general meeting of members of the Franklin' Racing Club was held in the Oddfellows' Hall last evening, the president (Mr. W. Claud Motion) presiding over an attendance of about sixty members. The president, in opening the first annual meeting, said he regretted the prevailing inclement weather, which no doubt prevented the attendance from being larger. However, those who had braved the elements were | the true sports, and he trusted they i would have an enthusiastic meeting.

Report and Balance-Sheet.

The secretary* Mr. A. P. Daysh, read the report a 9 follows: In submitting the first annual report and balance-sheet I wish to congratulate the club on the progress made in starting a racing club in the Franklin district. The club has been registered under the Incorporated Socities' Art, 1908, which gives every financial member an equal share in t4ie assets of the club after all liabilities have been paid should the club ;tt any time be wound up. Permission lo hold race meetings has been granted by the Auckland District Commitlee, and a certificate of registration has been granted by the Ne\v Zealand Racing Conference. The club l-.as purchased a property of 96 acres from Mr. 1). K. Hamilton at £BS per acre on exceptionally liberal terms. After a deposit of £SOO has been paid the remainder of the purchnse money, amounting to the sum of £7692 17s •id, remains on mortgage for a period of live years at a fixed rate of Interest of £HOO per annum, which re presents a rate of interest equal to about 4 per cent. The course, which lias been surveyed by Mr. Ledger, and approved of by Mr. Hill, caretaker of the Ellerslie Racecourse, is a little over one mile, with a twofuilong straight. The committee decided that instead of leasing the grazing rights of the property to farm it themselves. A farming committee was set up, who decided to (case the dwellinghouse and five acres of land and to put backward springing heifers on the balance. This has been done. The house and five acres of land has been leased to Mr. Clarkson at a rental of £65 for the first year, and £7B for the remaining two years, lessee to pay all rates and taxes charged on that portion of the property. Thirty head of springing iieifers have been purchased on which the committee hope to make at least per head profit. A gift scheme has been iaugurated whereby members and others are being canvassed to donate to the club one yearling heifer for delivery in November. Up to the present about 70 head have been promised. The committee trust lhat the same sporting spirit will continue, and that many more will !>e forthcoming. If a larger number is obtained by this scheme than the property will carry through the winter some will be sold and the money used in improving the property. You will see, gentlemen, that this scheme wHI be a very great help to the finances of the club, as the heifers will be worth at the very lowest at least '.'lo per head when springing to calve next year. About 60 acres have been top-dressed, and the fences put in order. The drains and blackberries have been cleared as far as possible. The committee have also decided to plough a portion of the high ground, which is badly infested with blackberries, and sow in turnips for the steck next winter. As regards a totalisator permit, everything possible has been done to procure same. It now rests solely with Parliament. A Private Members' Bill is about to be brought before the House probably this session. If that passes through the House a totalisator permit for Franklin is, I think, practically assured. Providing a totalisator permit can be secured the committee have arranged with Mr. R. Dalton to purchase an additional 10 acres of land which will, according to Mr. Hill's recommendation, make one of the safest and most up-to-date courses in New Zealand. You will notice by the balance-sheet that the members' subscriptions amounted to £291 2s, great diffioiilty being experienced in collecting subscriptions on account of there being no rare meeting held during the past year. At the same time 1 wish to heartily congratulate the members who made donations to the club amounting to the sum of £367 on their sporting spirit. It clearly shows that a racing club would be a great success in the Franklin district. In conclusion, 1 trust the club will continue to prosper, and lhat a totalisator permit will be available. Nothing can prevent the Franklin Racing Club from being one of the best country clubs in New Zealand, providing all work unanimously together in the interests of the ciub and the district as a whole. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of 1536 2s 8d cash at bank Mr. Jas. Kennelly moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Mr. C. K. Lawrie seconded. —Carried. With regard to the property, the president said he thought it was adI visable, even in view of the fact that j

they could not get a totalisator permit this year, for the club to acquire, the property, not only in the club's interest, but to the welfare of the Franklin district. He did not think the club would not get a permit. It may not be this year or next year, but he urged members to keep a united front, and hammer away until they sucqeeded in obtaining a permit. He urged all financial members to continue paying their subscriptions, because they owned the property, and if the club was ever wound up, the tinancial members would derive the benefit. He eulogised the work done ,by Mr. C. Clarke. Mr. Clarke, he said, had taken a keen interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the club. He had inaugurated a scheme in order to obtain heifers for the purpose of putting them on the club's property. So far Mr. Clarke had received promises for about 70 heifers, and next month he hoped the property would be fully stocked. Some of the members had agreed to go in for farming and developing the property in a thorough manner. They had signed a joint and several guarantee at the bank for £6OO for the farming account. All benefits accrued from the farming account would be the property of the club. He thought a very hearty vote of thanks should be accorded Mr. Clarke for ♦is efforts on behalf of the club.

Mr. H. H. D. Wylie moved that the club place on record its appreciation of the interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of the club. He added that Mr. Clarke had done an immense amount of work for the benefit of the club. Mr. J. H. Hindman seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation.

In returning thanks, Mr. Clarke said he had only done what was his duty audi would always endeavour to do what he could. ! Mr. Ivan Motion said he thought the committee had acted very wisely in renting the homestead and cleaning up the property, and those members who were taking such a keen interest in the welfare of the club wejjfi deesrving of a special vote of thSws. He moved that Messrs. McGough and McCormick, who had ac% quired cattle for the club, be accorded a hearty vote of thanks.—Carried by acclamation.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Messrs. Dynes Fulton and A. H. Tapper congratulated the committee on the strong financial position of the club. Electron of Officers. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows. The nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, and they were elected unopposed: President, Mr. W. Claud Motion; vice-president, Mr. C. Clarke; auditors, Messrs. J. F. Deane and G. LiHlejohn; committee. Messrs. G. H. Armstrong, J. Beatty, W. H. Hawke, J. M. Ward, Dynes Fulton, H. C. Bilkey, C. McCormick, S. J. Clews, H. H. 1). Wiley, P-L. Short, E. C Cuff and 1) J. Lynch. The secretary and treasurer are to be elected by the committee. Mr. W. Fallon, who was elected a member that evening, said that if any country club should prosper it should be the Franklin Racing Club because the club was situated in the centre of a fine farming district, and he thought there should be no difficulty in obtaining a totalizator per mit. Vote of Appreciation. The president moved that Mr. Wm. Roulston, the first president of the club, who had left the district, be accorded a hearty vote of thanks foi his efforts on behalf of the Hub. Mr. Roulston, he added, had .spared no efforts in endeavouring to obtain a totalisator permit during his connexion with the club.

Mr. 1). Fulton seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. Geo. H. Armstrong reported on the recent visit to the Racing Conference at Wellington. On Mr. Ivan Motion's motion Messrs Armstrong and Daysh were accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Question of NonTotalisatbr Meeting. Referred to Committee. Mr. H. H. D. Wily said he would like to know the feeling of the meeting with regard to the holding of a non-totalisator meeting. Personally he was in favour of holding a nontotalisator meeting perhaps early in December next.

Mr. Tapper supported the suggestion. Previously he was up against 'mu ut now had chan ged his opinion. .. """President said tthe first t h 'ng tney had to do was to construct a decent racing track, and as a body they should be prepared to support the suggestion financially. They must have a good track in order to prevent an accident which, if such took place, would be detrimental to the club in future when they had a totalisator meeting. Being so handy to Auckland he thought they could successfully hold a non-totalisator meeting, and would receive support from Auckland. First of all they required a really good track. In answer to Mr. H. G. Lysnar, the president said they had not had an estimate of cost of constructing a track, but he thought it would cost between £3OO and £4OO.

Mr. Taylor suggested deferring the matter until the Bill with regard to the increase of the totalijptor permits had been either passed or rejected by the HouSe of Representatives.

Mr. W. Fallon moved that the matter be left in the hands of the committee to* consider the advisability or otherwise of holding a non-total-

isator meeting, and the estimated cost of the formation of a track, and the committee to report at a future meeting t>f the club. Mr. Ivan Motion seconded the motion. '

Messrs. C. Clarke and R. H. TapI per supported the proposal. The motion on being put was carried unanimously. Vote* ef Thanks. Votes of thanks were accorded last year's officials, especially Messrs J. G. Russell (treasurer), and H. Bockett (auditor), who did*not'seek reelection.

A vote of thanks to the chair terminated an enthusiastic meeting.