TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 125, 2 July 1914, Page 3

TROTTING.

THE METROPOLITAN CLUB. LAND PURCHASE FUND. In moving the adoption of the committee's annual report and balancesheet at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club yesterday afternoon, the president (Hon. C. Louisson, M.L.C.) pointed out that in 1912-13 the club had given £13,511 in stakes, and in 1913-14 £16,665, an increase of over £3OOO. There would be an equally % large advance during . the coming season. In round figures, £20,000 would be given in stakes during the 1914-15 season. If members Went through balance-sheets for past years they would, he felt sure, be satisfied 6 that the increasing ainoimts given in stakes showed that trotting was in an excellent position. Furthermore, the club would give, during, the coming season, the largest stake ever given in New Zealand, £2500 for one race. The profits for tlie-1912-13 season were something under £9OOO. For the past year .the profits were -more like Of course, the outlay increased as rapidly as the income, but the position was highly satisfactory. Continuing, Mx Louissou"-'/saiij : '"tliat j tliere were important matters to ;' be considered by the club. The clilb was j .racing .now on leasehold property, but?) it was bound, in order to keep faith j with the public, to lay out a -large sum j of money annually bn tlie course. The i -lease had 16 or 17 years yet to run, ! but members knew that time passed rapidly, and the club should. have a piece of land of its own. The committee liad come' to the conclusion that it was absolutely necessary to build i up a fund out of* its annual prbfits,. so that iii a few years tlie club would:bein a position to, negotiate with the of the. :,pi£pesy'A<*p 4 -which tlje i club raced now, for the freehold, or, if it could not get that, to purchase ! another piece of land, so that-it could) cope with - any emergency. As the ■ nucleus of such a fund the committee j had placed £2OOO on fixed dfrjaosit. That required the sanction of this : meeting. ERECTION OF NEW STAND. Another matter to be considered,, went on the president, was that the attendance at the club's trotting meetings was increasing every year, but the committee had trouble in making provision for all its visitors. At the present time club had something like 400 . members, each of whom was entitled to 36 tickets during the year. As the subscription was only £1 1/-, it was a very cheap investment for members. The committee had decided not to elect any new members until the matter had been considered by the members. The committee had in prospect the erection of a members' stand in connection with the stewards' stand, which was quite inadequate.^ Replying to questions, the president said that the new stand would include accommodation for jockeys and trainers. It was hoped to start the building of the stand immediately after the August meeting. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr'H. Reynolds, who has retired from the position of starter to the club, after many years of valuable service, was elected a life member. The meeting decided that no new members should ; be elected until the new stand had been built.

. A resolution was passed, endorsing the committee's proposal regarding the establishment v of a fund for the acquisition of a freehold property, and stating that a sum, to be regulated by the club 's finances, should be" set aside each year for that purpose, the amount to be approved by each annual meeting. The committee was congratulated by the meetiajjg bringing: forward the proposal Approval was also given to the committee'» action in setting aside £2OOO of the past, year 's promts as a nucleusjaf the fund.

It was announced that the election of three members of committee had resulted in the return of Messrs E. Fox, W. Hayward, and J. S. Williams. STABTING BY DISTANCE.

Mr W. Hayward', jun., moved that it be a recommendation./to the incoming committee tliat (a) an extensive trial be given to starting by distance instead of by time, and (b) that the next New Zealand Gup should be started by this method. Mr Hayward explained that he was not finding fault with the management of the club; he considered that the management was excellent. But he thought that the present system, of starting was unfair. Any system which admitted of; a horse overstepping its bell by a fraction of a yard, and thereby being disqualified, was unfair to the owner, who had spent hundreds of pounds in getting that horse ready for the post. It was also unfair to the horse, the handicapper, the drivers, and the public. Mr Hayward blamed the present system for the fractiousness of horses at the post. Mr Hayward moved his motion in two sections. After discussing the question, the meeting carried the first portion of Mr Hayward's motion. The second motion was then withdrawn. CANTERBURY PARK CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of tiie Canterbury Park Trotting Club was held this afternoon, Mr H. J. Otley presiding. The report stated that the club had

had a very successful year, the operations being far in excess of any other period. The result showed clearly the popularity of .the club's meetings with the general public. The racing during the season had been of a first-class standard, and the programmes submitted to "owners had met with a hearty response, thus showing that the limits fixed had been generally approved. Considerable improvements and additions to the present buildings were iu contemplation to meet the requirements of the increasing attendances at meetings. The last of the money owing by the club on their property had been paid off and they now had a most valuable freehold property of 78 acres, which was held in trust in the interests of the sporting public. The principal items in the balancesheet were: —Receipts: To balance £2212 4/2, nominations £874 12/6, acceptances £641 2/6, totalizator £6453 5/3, gates £1479 2/9. With lesser amounts the total was £12,.'58;; 16/8. On the expenditure side there was shown a credit balance of £2909 7/11. The principal items were: By stakes £4490, Government tax £1919 ; 9/10, improvements £1229 9/2, loan reI paid (H. Smith) £SOO, advertising and printing £155 10/-. The receipts from j the first meeting were £4994, and from ; the second £5130 12/-, making a total of | first meeting was £3641 5/10, and for the second £3622 14/6, making a total of £7264 0/4. The liabilities are nil and the assets as follow:—-Bank balance £2909 7/11, Canterbury Park freehold £2400, buildings and improvements (less depreciation) £7OOO, furniture £144, plant and stock £140; total, £12,593 7/11. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman referred to a statement that had been made that there was' a danger of trotting getting ahead of flat racing. He did not thiuk there was the slightest ground to apprehend this. He would be very, sorry to think that would be the ease. The two sports of racing and trotting could go on side" by side - supported by practically the - same class of people. The time, he hdped, was not far distant when some of the greatest racing men would als6 be owners of trotting horses.' The ; report and 'balance-sheet were adopted. " The election of officers resulted President,' Mr C. S. Howellvide president, Mr F. Beverley; acting-vice-president, Mr H! J. Otley; treasurer, *Mr R.Wallace; committee, Messrs R.-j Uerritt, J; Holmes, J. Franks, P. .Hembling, A. L. Myers, J. Mason; stewards, Messrs C. E. Cross', ~R. V Derritt, 11. J. "Derritt, J. Franks;. T. KiJlick, N. J. Mason, J. Holmes, H. J. Otley ; auditor, Mr Hi Duncan; secretary, Mr A: I. Rattray; liandicapper, Mr F. Thomas; starter, Mr S.'Reynolds. ," v '\ * Bonuses of £3O were voted to the secretary "and to : the \treasurer. ; A bonus of £lO 10/- was voted to the caretaker, and. a similar bonus to the clerk. ;

The chairman assured the 'meetiug, in answer .to an enquiry, that the committee would seriously. consider- the question of reducing the track to six /u'riongs. It was contended by some speakers, in a short •discussion that took place that a six-furlong track was-. bet; ter from 'the spectators '" point of view, while'others contended that a six-fur-loiig track was more prolific of 'accidents than were the larger tracks. , - ;• Tliech&irman also announced that the committee intended putting on a £SOO race if possible at the New Y'ear.-

A. vote of thanks was accorded the secretary, the treasurer, the Grounds Committee, and the "president.