SPORTING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 9876, 25 July 1923, Page 6

SPORTING

METHVEN RACING CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. The eighth annual meeting of members of the Methven Racing Club was held on Monday. Present: Messrs John Dowling (president), H. Green, l‘. 8. Harrison, S. G. Holmes, J. F. Ppff, W. J. Going, J. McKendry, H. A. Nicholls, C. H. Ireland, and M. A. Stone. Apologies for absence were received fro.m Messrs R. and.. A. E. Henderson and D. McNamara. Messrs F, Lloyd and W. C. Battson were elected to membership. In presenting the seventh annual report and bahuJce-shoet the executive regretted that unfavourable weather marred the success of the annual meeting. The totalisator handled £8649 10s, against £11,144 in December, 1921, which meant a loss of revenue of about £l2O to the club. The amount of taxation paid in all, £747 Os 7d was a heavy burden to carry, considering the liabilities of a one-day meeting, and a strong effort should be made to assist the Racing Conference to have part of the taxation remitted. The meeting was held on December 2, the club being most unfortunate in striking another wet day. The gate receipts showed a falling off of £4O, while the nominations • and acceptances and the sale of race cards decreased by £2O. During the year the club had .spent £ixl in permanent fencing of their property, which was rendered necessary owing, to the subdivision of the Moamt Harding Estate. The buildings w*re badly in need of painting, and the fencing and railings in urgent need of repair. While not wishing to be pessimistic, the executive considered that s strong effort must be made to strengthen the finances, of the club. The executive placed on record a very hearty vote of thanks to. the president (Mr John Dowling) for the valuable silver cup given to the Methvon Cup winner. The committee had selected December 8, 1923, as- the date of the next meeting. In conclusion,,, members I were reminded of the necessity for | united effort to upheld the good opinion | tlie club had attained with owners and j trainers, and leave no. stone- unturned that would help to further its success. The balance-sheet was as follows:

Receipts Members’' subscriptions £l3B 11s, nominations and acceptances £347, totalisator receipts £ll2l Bs, sale of race cards £49 6s Id,, gate- money £2ll 3s 7d, rents £loo', jockeys’ fees £67 15s. sundry receipts £T7 ss, change £75, Methven Trotting duly (at call) £l5O, stake tax £B2 12s 9d, Bank of New Zealand overdraft at June- 30, 1923, £2210 16s 3d;—total, £4370? I7s Bd.

Expenditure—Stakes £940, stake tax £94, totalisator tax £222 4s, dividend duty and amusement tax £4l9' 8s 83, land tax and rates £ll 7s lid, advertising and printing £54 15s, insurance, fire and accident £l7 3s, starting barrier. luncheons and refreshments £44 0s 2d. ticket office, fencing, and labour £l2O 13s Bd, levies and foes £B7 7s lid, track work and change £9B' 16s 63, petty cash and sundry accounts £54. Is Bd, salaries and wages £BS Iss 4’d, interest £3lO 6s 9d, bank charge and exchange £2 10s 6d. deposit repaid Methven Trotting Club £l5O, Bank of Now Zealand overdraft at Juno 30, 1922. £1867 14s Dd total, £4570 17s Bd. Assets —Land account. Mount Harding course £3647 7s, property and buildings £1962 16s lid. members’ subscriptions (estimated) £3O, nominations outstanding £7, stake- tax outstanding £1 19s 7d ;—total, £5649 3s 6d. Liabilities—Land account,. Mount Harding course, dr. to Holmes’ Trust £3036 12s lOd, Bank of New Zealand overdraft at June 30, 1923, £2210 16s 3d, accrued interest Holmes’ Trust £42 6s 9d, accrued interest Bank of New Zealand £43 11s. total £5333 6s lOd, balance assets over liabilities £315 16s 8d ;—total, £5649 3s 6d.

The president commented on the very unfavourable state of tho club’s finances as a result of last year’s working. Mr T. S. Harrison spoke of the splendid work done by the president during the year, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to him. Mr T. S. Harrison urged the necessity of painting the buildings and repairing the fences on the course. Although tho finances were far from strong tho work was absolutely necessary. and could not be put off much longor. i\lr Green said that the Trotting Club should he asked to assist, considering that it had the use of the racecourse and the buildings thereon for holding their meetings. The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

The election of officers resulted as follows President, Mr S. G. Holmes; vice-presidents, Messrs W. Morgan, S. E. Richards, A. J . Wilson, W. W, Goodwin, and J. Dowling; lion, treasurer, Mr H. Green; lion, surgeon, Dr. W. H. McKee; hon. vet. surgeon, Mr A. McFarlane ;■ stewards, Messrs ‘■Campbell, J. F. Poff, J. McAnulty, S. Smith C Nordrjuist, D. L. Richards, C. H. Ireland, J. W. M. Dart, M. A. Stone, R Henderson, J C. Grubb, H. A. Nieholls, J. P. McKendry, and I). McNamara.

Votes of thanks were accorded to the treasurer and auditor for their services. A circular letter was received from the On mam Jockey Club containing a resolution dissenting from the proposals made by-the president of the Racing Conference for a reduction in the taxation on stakes and dividends.

The following resolution was carried on the motion of Mr T. S. Harrison, seconded by Mr H. A. Nieholls: “This Club recommends the adoption of the principle of a graduated totalisator tax, retention of the dividend tax, as at present, and gradual relief from the amusement tax.”

The meeting favoured the stake tax being abolished, as it was given voluntarily during the time of the war. Mr S. G. Holmes, the newly-elected president, returned thanks for the honour the club had clone him in electing him as president. He meant to do his utmost during his term of office to conduct the affairs of the club in a satisfactory manner, and as he was a keen racing man, the work for him would be of a most enjoyable nature. He trusted that he would have the hearty co-oper-ation of every member of the club as there was some strenuous work ahead.

it was decided to hold monthly meetings of the duh in future, and the fourth Monday in each month was decided Oil.

Tt was- decided that the president and lit!' J. E. Stone ■(’secretary) ho the offi. rial representatives of the club at the Oiira tunnel function.