FORTIETH TERM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 270, 27 August 1946, Page 5

FORTIETH TERM

TROTTING CLUB PRESIDENT PAST SEASON REVIEWED “This year marks the 40th occasion upon which you have elected me as president, and it is an honour which I appreciate very greatly,” commented Mr IT. F. Nieoll, when, returning thanks at the annual meeting of the Ashburton Trotting Club yesterday afternoon.

“The club during that period, from very small beginnings,” he continued, “lias grown to be one of the leading clubs in the Dominion, and that is due to the far-sighted policy adopted by the committee, which lias never i’uiled to support any plans that have appeared to lie for the betterment and progress of trotting. We thank owners, trainers and the public for their support, and, when we have our. rebuilding scheme completed, we believe that we will be able to offer, our patrons a racecourse and appointments that will satisfy their every requirement.” “I am sure the club generally and members of the committee especially,” said Mr A. A. McDonald, “appreciate and realise the extent of the excellent work Mr Nieoll has done for the sport. At every meeting there are eulogistic references to him, and I would like to congratulate him on his grand service to trotting generally and to the Ashburton Club in particular. We are proud to have him as our captain again, and trust that so it will be for many years to come.” Mr M. S. Turton endorsed the remarks of Mr McDonald. Except for stewards, the officers of the club were elected unopposed,. Fifteen nominations were received for the positions of stewards and ,a ballot resulted in the following being elected: Messrs J. Cocks, W. T. Lowe, Jas. McQuilkin, snr., John McQuilkin, S. Madden, A. J. Millichamp, A. J. Nieoll, G. H. Nieoll, V. W. Russell, R. G. Shearman, T. E. Tarbotton, .1. T. Thomas, M. S. Turton and Dr. W. G. Todd. ,* * Permit Lost Through Error

“We have never forgotten,” commented the president, in moving the adoption of the annual report and bal-ance-sheet (as already published in the “Guardian”) “that the club was deprived of a permit through an error, which was acknowledged by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Sir Francis Bell, when a deputation from the club interviewed him immediately after the revision of dates was published at that time. Our club had abandoned a day’s racing the previous season, and that was overlooked by the commission, so that our four days’ racing were cut to two, in the redistribution of permits, although it- was only in-, tended to reduce us by one day. We will hope that that error will be rectified by the Gaming Commission that has now been appointed. Taxation Question “The attention of the committee can also be drawn to the question of taxation. All the clubs in the Dominion are in a similar position and when one ( scans the figures in the balancesheet it does seem like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Whilst our stakes, which were liberal, and compare very favourably with any other'club either racing or trotting in New Zealand, amounted to £12,945 for three days, the taxation totalled £19,065, leaving the club £1658 profit. “Whilst the existing surplus of money in the Dominion continues available, some of the clubs may be able to carry this taxation, but there are others who are struggling to keep going, who find the existing taxation an almost insuperable load, and, wh m times return to normal and inflation recedes, racing and trotting dubs wfil suffer alike and it is plainly the duty of the conference to take sum steps may be possible to end jo. von c to obtain some r-'Uef from this very heavy burden.”