STRATFORD RAGING CLUB.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 28, 31 August 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD RAGING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The 25th annual meeting of the Stratford Racing Club was held last night when the president (Mr W. H. H. Young) occupied the chair and there was an attendance of about sixty members.

The annua] report and balance-sheet (which had been in the hands of the members and published in the columns of the "Stratford Evening Post") was taken as read. The President, in moving their adoption, said he was very pleased to sec so large an attendance at the meeting. Members could sec by the report that the Club had bad a very prosperous year. The committee were able to bring down a very satisfactory balancesheet owing to the prosperous year the province and the whole Dominion had experienced. It had been suggested at the last annual meeting that the net profits, amounting to about £,'300, should be devoted to the Patriotic Fund, but it was proposed to donate about double that amount. During the year the track had been completely renewed at a cost of about £3OO. This represented practically new work. The committee could' confidently recommend that about £6OO be voted for patriotic purposes. Some members might not have been aware of the new arrangement made with the Bank where by the guarantors had been relieved. The Club had to reduce its overdraft by £2-50 a year, and had a margin of £450 to work on until next race meeting.

Mr W. J. Morrison seconded the motion. He said he was pleased to see so large an attendance of members present. The report and balancesheet spoke for themselves. The stakes had been increased at the last race meeting and the public and horse-owners would always support a progressive club. There were a number of improvements which should have the attention of the in coming committee. The committee had £450 to work on tilLncxt race meeting. It would be necessary in his opinion to at once cany out certain works entailing water being laid on to , thq ground, the building of conveniences and erecting a septic tank, i HnSS O, iIV& work, .in his opinion, would cost about' £450." The water connection would cost about £IOO. He had also boon told by the public and racing men that the Club must erect a number board, but owing to the special calls on finance ho would ask the indulgence of the public in that matter for another year. The entrance road would have to be tar-sealed as last year the motors cut up the dust very badly. The Club would have to face the question of the extension of the buildings. They were fortunate in having fine weather at the last meeting or the buildings would have been inadequate to accommodate the people. The enormous _ increase in the motor traffic would force the Club to purchase more land.

Mr J. J 5. Richards (Treasurer) congratulated the meeting on there being so largo an attendance and said the annual meeting was practically the only occasion on which the members of the committee could meet the members as a whole. The Club had made good progress' since it had done away witli the support of the guarantors. There had been a great deal said about the suppression of racing in war time, but lie did not agree with it. If we were to abolish amusement during war time ' then other forms of amusement such as theatres, picture palaces, skating rinks, football matches, etc., would also have to lie suspended to he logical. The speaker quoted a remark made by Mi' Lloyd George at a competition held in Wales recently, when the British Minister is reported to .have said: "Why should we not sing? England lias not drawn down tlie blind." There had apparently been tin? same criticism in Wales as regard to singing as there was in New Zealand in regard to racing. The remarks coming from such a source and from such a patriot as Lloyd George

it could ue seen that it was not wise 'to suspend racing. The speaker supplied figures showing the progress of the Clnb for the last five years, and amongst other facts indicated that the totalisator investments in 1912. were £18,525; 1913, £21,95-1; 1911, £30,525; 1915, £33,325; 1916, £38,862, This was a record of which the Club might justly be proud. The stakes during the same period had increased as follows; 1912, £1225; 1913, £1515; 1911, £1605; 1915, £2000; 1916, £2350. The Government tax on the totalisator investments had also increased from £lB4 in 1912 to £IBOS (including dividend tax) in 1916. The profits on the racing for the five years under review were:—£lo6o, £IO2O, £1557, £l-169 and £l6lO. The annual profits over the same period were: £325, £291, £B3B, £197, £298. This account was governed largely by the manner in which money was spent. .Money spent on permanent improvements was transferred to the capital account. The assets over liabilities for the five years totalled: £5551, £0950, £6788, £7286 and £7582. The item land had increased in value but they had not increased the land value in the assets shown. The Club had acquired more land and that accounted for the higher figure under this head.

air D. J. Malone said the Club bad experienced a very successful year. He was of opinion there were at least three bad blots oil the race meeting last year. One was the condition of the track, though that had now been thoroughly renewed and the bends regraded. By New Year's Day the Club would have as good a trade as any metropolitan club in New Zealand. A second blot was that an up-to-date mimcr board should be erected. The cost would be about £3OO. The Club had to give the public what it wanted and its appointments had to be up-to-date. Thirdly the accommodation for ladies was very bad. The Club would have to have a tea kiosk, and there was room for one to be erected at the rear of the Stewards' stand. Every nail put in would help to get another day's racing, which was what the Club wanted. Some discussion with regard to the proper .time and .method for the election joTyrnHv. members and the Club's policy on this question followed the report and balance-sheet, sheet. Mr W. H. H. Young was re-elect-ed President and briefly returned thanks for the honor done him. Mr W. J. Morrison was re-elected vicePresident unopposed. An election for seven members of Committee result: ed in the return of Messrs H. E. Abraham (re-elected), F. Mackay, 8. Pitt (re-elected), J. R. L. Stanford (re-elected), A. Stewart (re-elected), AV. R. S. Brewer, and W. P. Kirkwood' (re-elected).

Mr T. Harry Pe'n'n was unanimously re-elected auditor.

The following new members were elected: Messrs T. Anderson (Hniroa), J. M. Jones (Makahu), R. G. Cottier, J. Higriett, W. E. Jones, Wm. Lovett, H. A. O'Lea'rv, W. P. Pratt, G. E. Smith, N. F. Thorpe, C. B, Walsh, T. Wilson and H. 15. Worthington (Stratford). Dr. Paget moved the following motion, of which he had given notice: (1) "That Rule 15 (a) be amended by the deletion of the 31st July as tho date upon which the Club's book and accounts arc to he balanced, and the substitution therefor" by the 30th June." (2) "That Rule 15 (b) bo amended by substituting the Ist July to the .'loth of June as the fiscal year, instead of the Ist August to the .'Rst of July, as at present." The mover explained the object of the resolution was to give members time to see what matters had come forward and talk over the balancesheet before the annual meeting, if the financial year closed at an earlier date the report and balance-sheet could be posted to members and so give them the opportunity of considering it. The motion found general support and was carried unanimously. The Chairman said the nomination papers of_ several members had been

on the wall for seven days and they wore to be eleccted at the annual meeting. He thought that in future wore to be elected at the annual ing should be allowed He privilege of voting the same as those elected by the committee seven days before. At present members elected the same ing should be allowed the privilege of voting. As all the members were not aware of the reading of the rules ho had taken the Chili's solicitor's opinion on the matter, and it would be quite in order to elect new members immediately after the reading of the minutes, so that they could vote at the elections held on the same night. Some discussion followed weak points in such a suggestion being pointed out. A motion by Dr. Page; that new members be elected immediately alter the reading of the minutes at the annual meeting was lost ou the voices. Mr J. Fredric said he had moved at the last annual meeting that permanent improvements be made in certain directions. The Stratford course was the only one he had been on where the general public could not seo the finish of the race. Dr. Paget said he did not know of another course where the general public got a better view of the finish of a race. Mr D. J. Malone said in any case this discussion was beating the air as the winning post had been moved some distance towards the outside stand. '^#sl Votes of thanks were passed to Mr J. It. L. Stanford (lion, judge), Mrs Young for presenting prizes to gentlemen riders, Mr J. B. Richards (treasurer), Messrs S. Pitt and A. Stewart (farm committee) the delegates to the Racing Conference, Mr I). J. Malone for his unceasing work on the course improvements, the Taranaki Metropolitan Club for presentation of gentlemen riders' fees, and to the secretary, Mr A. Coleman. This concludod the business.