MASTERTON RACING CLUB'S STAKES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8189, 26 July 1906, Page 5

MASTERTON RACING CLUB'S STAKES.

TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY' INCREASED.

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RACECOURSE.

At the annual meeting of the members, o£ -the Masterton Racing Club, yesterday, Mr 0. A. Powuall moved "that the Stewards be instructed to increase the stake?, so that tney would b9 aa near as possible t0£2,500 £2,500 " Last year the Stewards bad been instructed to increase thebtakes by £SOO, but they had only adOea £250 to trio slake money. If the club was to hold its position among other clubs the stakes mould have to be increased. Mr J. Cress seconded the motion, and agreed with Mr Pownall's remarks.

Mr A. G. Filrner opposed themotion, aad in doing so said he thought the club should cater better 'for the publio. The present grandstands were very poor, and if it was decided fo build a new grandstand it would ba a s<ep in the right direction. It was his iateutiou to ask the meeting to grant a sum between £I,OOO and £1,500 tor a new grandstand, and leave the matter to the Stewards to deal with He thought that this question should be dealt with before the clut made any further iucrease in stakes. Mr D. McLachlan thought that the question should be left entirely to the Stewards. If-the Stewards were> given to understand that the members desired the stakes to be increased, the Stewards coald act as; they thought best. The present saddling paddock biidly needed enlarging and the whole accommodation of the course should ba increased. He taought i£ was about time the club took steps to cater for its patrons in a better manner than it did at present.

Mr D. Caselberg pointed oat that the inorease in stakes asked for by Mr Ponnall wbs only £250 for four days' racing. This meant aa increase of £62 10s per day, and this amount could easily be spread over £ day's prqgramme, more particularly in the way of increasing the third money. Mr F. Moore favoured leaving the matter to' the Stewards, and lift moved.an amendment to that effect. Mr 'A. j. Welch seconded the amendment, which was lost by 15 votes to 16 vo^et.

The motion was then put to tha meeting and declared oarried. A general discussion then ensued on the question of re arranging the present buildings on the course, and generally enlarging and improving the accommodation.

Mr Pilmer moved, and Mr Pownall seconded, "that the Stewards be authorised to expend money at their discretion in a general re-con-struofcion of tUe grandstand and other buildings, and if necessary to borrow for that purpose." The reso? lution was carried.