MASTERTON RACING CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10297, 28 July 1911, Page 5

MASTERTON RACING CLUB.

--NNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Mastenton Racing Club \uis held in Murray's Hall yesterday afternoon, there being present,— Messrs CP. Vullaxi<xr (President), and about forty 'members. Apologies for abseoico. Were received from. JVLessr.s O. C. Cooper 'and W. Piatt. REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET.

The annual report and balance sheet was presented. This -showed •thiat the past year had been- fairly successful. Tlie Oluib had nearly managed ito wipe out the deficiency of £403 6s lid brought over from last year, the overdraft at present being £sl 7is Bd. The amount. received for nominations and acceptances showed an increase of £6O ovier that received for last season. The 'amount paid to Ithe Government for taxes was £515 19s. The training tracks* at Opaki were in good'order, mainly on account of the care and attention 'given by the Custodian, In movir'2; the adoption of the report, fcbe Chairman .stated tihat they ihiad had a fairly isuocessful year. As they were all aware, they had lost one. of itlieir racing days. * The sitewardis had consequently decided to hold: a one-day meeting in tilie spring, rand a (meeting inthe autumn. Their ground appointments having 'been destroyed, it was decided to aptply for a day for the spring meeting late in the year, to enable them to re-erect their buildings. Application had been .made for Becember 21st, which was the last Thursday before Christmas, and this. date had been, granted. Mr D. McLachlan, in seconding the amotion, stated that tSie Club had received 'a decided set-back in having one of ate days cut out. It was a question whether, this one-diay -meeting would pay. At annate, they would have to put up with ijhe\ consequences. -Mr MeLachlan pointed out tliat the time had arrived when sporting men should combine ito endeavour to protect their date-resits. They had allowed the "other side to go too far. Sporting men did not interfere with the movement's of otbher people, and lie thought that the sporting isection of the community had a right to its own amusements, wifchout interference. .. Tlie speaker was of opinion, that a question on the subject should be .put to every candidate for Parliament. Mr Pownall: Tbeonly thing to do is to join the National League. Tlie motion for the adoption of the report wa-s then put and carried.

INSURANCE. A ( letter was read from Mr C. A. TaMteau, tagjent for the North .Brit-" list* Company, Stating that "ttoe policy under which the coil tents off the buildings on the racecourse was issued was a general average one. The policy had Ibeen taken out by. ..Mr-T. Duncan, when he was secretary*: - " ' ■■•--,■= - ■ The ohainmara stated that the conditions of the .policy meant that, instead of receiving £2OO insurance on the contents of the buildings, the Club would receive £92. The total insurance on the appointments w Mid amount to about £IOOO. The secretary stated that of the insurance would 'go to Mr Liverton, who had a mortgage on the property. He understood, however, tlat Mr Liverton was willing to rearrange the mortgage. in answer to a question) by MrMacara, the secretary stated that the seal** were insured. A GENEROUS OFFER. A letter was read from the Tara-tahi-Garterton. ■,. Club, sympathising with this Club in its recent loss, and offering the free use of its course for the spring meeting, on certain condition's. On the motion of Mr C. A. Pownall, seconded -fey Mr E. G. : Eton, it was decided that the Taratahir Carterton Chib be thanked for its kind offer, and that this offer be availed of if required. NEW MEMBERS. The following now members were elected:— Messrs B. Douglas,' Nisbett, Hodgkins, Weir, W. McLaren, and F. J. BrigM. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: Patron, Mr A. W. Oave; President,; •Mr .C. F. VaUance; Vice-Presidents, Messrs J. Maoara, C. A. Pownall, A: G. Pihner. and D. MeLachlan; Olerk of "Scales, Ma" W. Cooper; % Timekeeper, Mr W. D. Watson;' Treasurer, Mr C. R Vallanoe;. Clerk of; Mr H. ',W. Smitfc; Stew'*assSrMessrs:;,>C. ■ : rS-., Bennett ? Jtev'■ Buick, 0. 0. Cooper, W. Cooper, Frank Dorset, J. lorns, J. B. Moodie, W. Piatt, A. Reside, A. J. Welch, J. Whittaker, and G. H. Yates; Auditor, Mr G. W. Sellar.' . BUILDINGS. The chairman moved ifchat tlie. members l authorise the Stewards to raise a sum not exceeding £3OOO (including insurance) for the erection of new buildings on Ithe course. They had <a good body of stewards, as a rule, aai4 they could" be trusted not to be extravagant."" Mr Pownall seconded the .motion,. which was-' carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Pownall, seconded by Mr D. Oaselberg, it was decided that the Stewards be reooaiimiendied. to adopt, as far as possible, tihe .plans of Mr W T est for the new ibuildings.

SPRING MEETING.

Mr PownaJl moved that it be a recommendation to the Stewards that the spring meeting on December £l,gt ibe h.eld on the Taratahi course, if found, onoonvenient to. race at the. Ojpaki. He pointed out-that it would (be almost impossible to get the buildings erected by December. The chairman said.,that the Tara-tahi-Carterton stewards had already refused to race at Mastertori. The "Biacing Commission, had recommended that the Taratahi Olub 'should race at Masiterton,, but the stewards, -of the Taratahi Club would not hear of this. _ Personally, he thought -tflie'ir buildings would .be ready .by Ithe date. Mr V. Donald seconded Mr Pownall's resolution. \ Mr A. G. Pilmer thought it was not 3-ight to pass a resolution in f av<wrr of going to the Taratahi. The Taratahi Club had refused to meet them, and had beaten Ithem over their date. The chairman said they would lose some revenue from loose-boxes, etc., by going to the Taratahi. Mr D. McLaehlan thought the question should be left entirely to the stewards, in whom they eliould have confidence. Mr Pownall pointed out that this resolution was merely a recommendation to the Stewards. Mr E. G. Eton considered it would be a pity to race at the Taratahi. At the same time, he could not ,see any harm in pas-sing the resolution.. Mr J. Maoara pointed out that .-under the recommendation of the Racing Commission, the Taraftahi Club should race at Masterton, and not the Master-ton Club at Taratahi. The chairman said they would require to get permission to race at the Taratahi. Afiter further discussion, Mr Pownall altered his resolution to read as

follows: "Thai; it ibe a recommendation to the incoming Stewards iihat they use all possible expedition to race on the Opaki on 21st December; but if found inconvenient the Club race on the Taratahi on that date in> pursuance of that' Chub's kind offer." This resolution was carried on the voices.