RACING CLUB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1941, Page 3

RACING CLUB

SUCCESSFUL YEAR RECORDED MORE MEMBERS WANTED. ANNUAL MEETING HELD LAST NIGHT. An appeal to the public to support the Masterton Racing Club by increasing its membership was made at last night’s annual meeting of the club. A new steward. Mr J. C. D. Mackley, it was stated, had secured eighteen new members and his example was set up as one for others to follow. It was held that in a district like the Wairarapa the club should have a membership of 400 or 500 at least. A successful year was recorded. Moving the adoption of the annual report and financial statement, the president, Mr J. M. James, said the club had had another successful meeting, though the second day was not as good as it might have been as far as the fields were concerned. The club was in a good, sound financial position. After referring to an amount of £l3OO in the bank guarantee suspense account, he said the totalisator at the last meeting showed an increase in turnover of £698 compared with the previous year's figures. The profit for the year was £213 Is 2d, as compared with a loss the previous year. The change of racing dates for the coming meeting to Thursday and Saturday, October 9 and 11, would, he thought, make for a more successful meeting, which would be a week earlier than the old dates. Mr James explained what had been done in effecting the change in dates and referred to the action of the Otaki Maori Racing Club in agreeing to change its date to enable the Masterton Club to race on the new dates. The Otaki Club’s action was greatly appreciated. Although the question of a reduction in racing days had been raised at the Racing Conference, the matter had not been debated and he took it that racing would be continued as in the past, as long as it did not interfere with the country’s war- effort. He quoted figures to show that 2600 permanent and 6677 casual employees were engaged in racing in New Zealand, so it could be seen how much the sport meant to the country. Mr James congratulated Mr T. George on his successes and also Mr W. Broughton and went on to state that 25 horses were being trained on the Opaki tracks and that there was every chance of that number being increased. The course and its appointments were in first-class order and thanks to Mr Esau, flowering shrubs and plants had been put in round the grandstand. He referred to the splendid work of Mr F. B. Vallance, a steward for many years, who was not seeking re-election. Mention was made also of the work of the late custodian, Mr Gibbs, and of the new custodian, Mr Rogers. Fifteen members of the club were away on active service. Mr James thanked all who had assisted the club and referred with satisfaction to the work and cooperation of the officers, stewards and the secretary, Mr N. H. James. He asked all members to do their best to boost the coming meeting, which he was sure would be a most successful one. IMPROVED. POSITION. Mr S. J._ W. Gill referred to the improvement in the' financial position of the club, which in 1934 had an overdraft of £l5OO, whereas today it was in credit with the bank. Today it had 300 members at £1 each, as compared with 274 in 1928 at £2 each. They should have at least 400 to 450 members. The club possessed a well-equip-ped, splendid course with the buildings in good order. The matter of holiday racing was constantly before the stewards,' he said, but they did not seem to make any headway. Mr Gill said the stewards were satisfied that spring racing was the most suitable for this district; racing had been tried in the autumn, but it had not been a success. He appealed to the public to support' the club and to increase its membership. In such a good district as this it should be possible to substantially increase the membership. Mr J. Macfarlane Laing congratulat- | ed the club on the successful conduct of its affairs and said he hoped the win and place system would be continued at the coming meeting. Mr J. A. Betts agreed that the membership should be increased and stated that Mr Mackley, a new steward, had secured 18 new members. He had set a worthy example to others. Mr Betts pointed out that if the membership was increased by 300 there would not be so much difficulty in increasing the stakes. The club, he maintained, was on the up grade. REORGANISATION WANTED. Mr H. L. Esau expressed the view that the Racing Conference was not moving with the times in its' control of racing and considered that in a district like the Wairarapa there should be only one club. If the sport were organised on those lines he thought it would be to the benefit of every district in New Zealand. Although admitting that racing in New Zealand was perhaps 40 years behind the times, Mr N. G. F. Whiteman said all the blame could not be placed on the Racing Conference. It was the work of the Government —there was no question of politics —but the trouble was they had never had a Government with the courage to tackle the problem. It was the Government’s job to reorganise the whole of racing. Mr Mackley suggested that consideration could be given to the suggestion of introducing sweepstakes for the club’s events instead of increasing the stakes. In reply to Mr Laing, who suggested that the stewards might consider the introduction of a hurdle event at the club’s meeting, Mr Gill said the stewards had tried a hurdle race some years ago and it was not a success. Mr'A. Corskie referred to the donation of the Hack Cup by Messrs C. J. Toxward, J. A. Betts and Norman James, whose action, he said, was greatly, appreciated. Mr J. M. James endorsed Mr Cors-j kie’s remarks and a vote of thanks to | the donors was passed by acclama-l tion. I No election was necessary for the appointment of officers and stewards, only the required number being nominated. i Messrs Sellar and Sellar were reap-j pointed auditors and Mr W. Cameron , treasurer. |