Auckland Trotting Club to Spend £40,000 on Course Improvements

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 215, 30 November 1927, Page 1

Auckland Trotting Club to Spend £40,000 on Course Improvements

NEW MEMBERS' STAND & ELECTRIC TOTE rr 'HE AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB, IN KEEPING WITH ITS 1 PROGRESSIVE POLICY, HAS NOW IN HAND A SCHEME FOR THE ERECTION OF A MEMBERS’ STAND AND THE INSTALLATION OF AN ELECTRIC TOTALISATOR.

A T the annual meeting of the club in August, the president, Mr. John Rowe, referred to the necessity for the erection of a new members' stand. He also dealt with the question of the installation of an electric totalisator, and assured his hearers that such important questions would be further dealt with by the executive, intimating that action would be taken before the end of the year. COMMITTEE UNANIMOUS Yesterday afternoon a special meeting was called by the secretary, Mr. A. G. Mabee, to consider these questions further. After lengthy consideration it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of the president, Mr. J. Rowe, seconded by Mr. G. E. Tansley, chairman of the Works Committee, “That the commute proceed with the erection of a new members’ stand, and the installation of an electrical totalisator (inside and outside) at a cost not to exceed £40,000.

A special committee, consisting of Messrs. John Rowe (chairman), C. J. Schnauer, T. Buxton, and the club’s architect, Mr. N. Wade, was deputed to make an inspection of the electric tote plants in use in the North Island and to report to the executive with a recommendation as to which model should be adopted. Speaking on the question of the

electric machine, the chairman pointed out that the movement had not just been given birth. The committee for several years had recognised the importance of such a move and had given it consideration, but the financial aspect was also necessarily kept in view. He realised that the “club must crawl before it could walk,” and every care had to he exercised before incurring heavy liability on the club. The club was now in a position to face the proposal squarely, and the time was opportune for proceeding with the scheme. BIG SAVING OF TIME The majority o£ members present endorsed Mr. Rowe’s views, and the opinion was unanimous that the innovation would prove of great service and advantage to the numerous patrons, and also facilitate the better carrying out of the programmes. There would be a big saving in time, and the delay occasioned in arranging final adjustments with the manual machine would be eliminated “INADEQUATE ACCOMMODATION” During the discussion on the advisability and need for a new members’ stand, the chairman referred to the disadvantages and inconvenience suffered by members for many years through inadequate accommodation. The subject* recurred annually, and for the last three years the members had been promised that something would be done to alleviate the congestion on the stand. He thought the time had arrived when the committee should make a definite move in this direction and erect a stand that would fully accommodate all members and their relatives and friends to whom tickets were issued. Several members mentioned the fact that while the present stand was built

to accommodate 500 people, it was usually required to carry double that number. READY BY CHRISTMAS, 1928 Replying to a question, the chairman said it was hoped to get the work commenced with as little delay as possible in order to have the work completed in time for the Christinas carnival of 1928. All the work would be carried out by contract, and as soon as the investigation committee completes its report, and the executive adopts the scheme recommended, Mr. Wade will prepare the plans. Tenders will then be called and everything will be in readiness for a start on the big works shortly after the coming Christmas holiday season.