MARION JOCKEY CLUB.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9455, 26 May 1909, Page 5

MARION JOCKEY CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting was held last evening. There was a record attendance of members. Dr. Sherman presided. REPORT OF COMMITTEE. In presenting their Annual Report and Balance-sheet for the year ended' 31st March, 1909, your Committee have pleasure in recording a successful season. The Annual Race Meeting was held on the ;2nd and 3rd September, 1908, and the Club was favoured with delightful weather. The stakes of the meeting were raised by £2OO, and this step was fully justified, as the nominations and acceptances totalled £IOO more than the previous meeting, and the totalisator investments also showed a slight increase. Bookmakers were licensed, and increased the receipts by £496. A profit of £964 Is. was shown on the meeting, which constitutes a record for the Club. During the year the (-Committee have undertaken a number of improvements to the appointments and , grandstand, and a sum of £985 Bs. lOd. was spent in permanent improvements, whilst £24 3s. 6d. went for new plant, an expenditure which is not likely to occur for a few years. The improvements to the grandstand were completed before the Annual Meeting, and proved a great boon. A steeplechase course has been formed and grassed, and will he in excellent order for the Annual Race Meeting. The fencing round the track has been painted, and the whole of the buildings on the ground have been repainted, A contract has now been let for additions to the caretaker’s residence. The expenditure for the year exceeded the receipts by £l5B ss. 2d., and the Bank overdraft at 31st March, 1909, was £1507 11s lid. It is with deep regret (that we have to chronicle the death of Mr A. Y. Mcßeth, vicePresident of the Club, who has held that position since its inception. The thanks of the Club are due to the honorary officials for their services during the year, especially the Course Committee (Messrs A. R. R. Neumann, A. Cameron and S. J. Gibbons), who have had a busy time of it on account of the improvements being carried out. And also to Mr R. H. Aldworth for his services as honorary judge. On account of Dr. Skerman having accepted the position of guarantor, rendered vacant by the death of Mr S. Gibbons, he will act by virtue of that office as a steward during the duration of the guarantee. Messrs K. W. Deighton and R. Young retire in rotation from the Committee and Stewards, but are eligible for reelection. —S. SKERMAN, Chairman of Committee. * FINANCE. The balance-sheet of- last race meeting showed a profit of £964 Is. The chief items of receipts were : Privileges £142 11s, gates £256 10s 6d, nominations and acceptances £441 10s, bookmakers’ fees £496, and £lOlB 7s lid from the working of the totalisator. The chief itejp of expenditure was|£ll4o for staked. The statement of the year’s working showed that the expenditure exceeded the receipts by £l5B 6s 2d. The principal items of receipts were balance from last race meeting £964 Is, lease of centie of course £35 4s, and members subscriptions £133 The cost of permanent improvements to the course totalled £985 8s lOd and new plant and machinery £24 3s 6d. The assets of the Club amount to £2742 7g 6d, which leaves a balance above the bank overdraft of £1284 15s 7d.

In moving the adoption of the report and ,balance-sheet the chairman referred to the progress made by the Olnb during the past year. The large attendance of members showed that a healthy interest in the business/ of the Olnb was being taken. The last race meeting was a great success, which demonstrated the fact that it would be inadvisable to alter the date, o£ their race meeting. They were extremely fortunate both as regards bookmakers’ fees and the totalisator receipts, which we re the largest yet received, and compared more than favourably with meetings held at a later date in other centres. The Club had not been idle during'the year. The profit from the race meeting had enabled them to go in for further improvements of a permanent character, including the fencing of the course, which should be appreciated by horse-owners and jockeys, The small amount outstanding for subscriptions and arrears in nominations and acceptances reflected great credit on the secretary (Mr A. Way). In referring to the Club’s assets he claimed that the purchase of the course was a most profitable investment. He paid a warm tribute to the caretaker of the course who had done his work well. They could congratulate themselves on having one of the best courses on the West Coast. The general opinion was that the racing tracks were in an excellent condition. Some trouble was being experienced about the dates for the next meeting. Tbe first available Wednesdayjfor the new racing season was on Bth September and Marton Olnb were entitled to this date, but it meant clashing with Horowhenua. To avoid this Maston Jockey Club had tabled a notice of motion for tbe Racing Conference in July to substitute August 31st for September ?lat as the end of the period for the welter weight season. If this was carried Marton iOlnb could race on the Ist and 2nd September, and thus the difficulty would be got over. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows President, R. Aldworth, Esq. ; vice-presidents, R, E, Beckett, Esq., and D. G. Rddiford, Esq., and Drs. Skerman and Bennett; judge, R. H. Aldworth, Esq. ; timekeeper, Mr W. L. Little; clerk of scales, Mr T. T. Watt; assistant clerk of scales, Mr R. Young; clerk of course, Mr R. Molndoe; handioapper, Mr G. Morse; treasurer, Mr D. Q. Riddiford; secretary, Mr Arthur Way ; stewards ; R. E. Beckett, D. G. Riddiford, Dr. S. Skerman, A.]R. R. Neumann, F. R. H. Brice, A. Cameron, T. T. Watt, W. G. Gray, Dr. T. Bennett, E, W. Broad, F. L. Young, S. J. Gibbons (Bitting members). The ballot for four vacancies on the committee apd stewards resulted in Messrs R. Young. K. Deighton, E. Read and Jas. Bull being elected. Mr Jas. Ooombe wrote, resigning his position as starter and appreciation of his services was recorded. Mr O’Connor, of Auckland, was appointed starter. Votes of thanks were passed to the officers of the Club and special reference was made of the services gratuitously given by Mr R. H. Aldworth as judge. Following new members were elected; Messrs Robt. Hunt, John Hannan,-S. W. Cox, E. I Qahagan

w R. Mowat (HunterIS) Sa S: Mo.V° ana F. Bonner he g qneS the stakes was discussed, nrnl Gibbons favoured making . /j ' gramma still more attractive a- p. keeping with ot&er Clubs, moved that the stakes be inofcMSa , by £IOO. The Chairman stated the Cfob was now giving £l3O more than waff required by the rules' of racing. Last year an Increase of £2OO was made. He was against any further' increase at present. Mr W. Meldrmn supported the motion. With the completion of the Main Trunk Line they ought to make a very attractive meeting at Marton. The town should become an important centre. No doubt people from Auckland would come down to the races and an increase in attendance meant an increase in totalisator receipts. The Club should occupy an important position as they now had everything in their favour. They had not been noted for being too generous in giving stakes and thf time was opportune for doing so. Mr Levett suggested the matter be left to the committee to decide, but this did not meet with general approval. An amendment was moved by Mr G. Fulton that the stakes be increased by £2OO, and on being put to the meeting was lost on the casting vote of the Chairman. Two further amendments were then proposed —one for £l5O increase by Mr Meldrmn, and another for £199 19s lid by Mr Oormack. Tne first was not carried and on the second being amended to read £l9O increase-, it was carried by a small majority.

At a meeting of the committee held subsequently, Dr. Skerman was elected chairman.