TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 240, 8 October 1894, Page 4

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of membera of the Takapuna Jockey Club was held this afternoon ab Devonport. Mr E. W. Alison presided. _ ~ Mr Wynyard, the Secretary, read bbc reporb and balance-sheet. The reporb was as follows :—" Your Commibtee are gratified in being able to show that bhe year a business ha 3 been successful. The net profits are £333 2s 6d, tbe receipts being £2,912 2s 3d and the expenditure £2578 19s 9d. This resulb is a pleasing conbrasb bo the balance sheet of the two previous years, which in each instance showed a considerable deficiency. The cause of tho yeara success is owing to the club having held only two meetings as againsb three previously, showing bhab tbe existing restrictions re added money are neither in favour of the Club nor of horse-owners. The stakes paid away for the year amounted bo £1,472 10s as agaioeb £2,000 last year. Your committee are of opinion it would be best to hold the same number of meetings this year as last as the club should endeavour to continue bo advance its financial position so bhab improvements and necessary public conveniences may be undertaken.

Balance - sheet for the year ending July 31s b, 1894.—Profit and Loss : To stakes, £1,472 10s ; to rents and interests, £476 ; to salaries and wages, £246 Is ; to printing and advertising, £93 4s ; to catering, etc., £29 3s ; to carting, etc., £27 18s ; to rates, £8 15s ; to sundries, £225 8b 9d ; to balance, £333 2s 6d ; total, £2,912 2s 3d. By.to-aliß-.-or, (£1,541 14s 9d. lesa Governmenb tax £266 9s) £1,275 5b 9d ; by nominations and acceptances, £651 10a ; by gafees and booths, etc., £612 15a 6d; by members' subscriptions, etc., £129 ; by fees, fines, etc., £206 Ids; by sundries, £36 15s; total, £2,912 2s 3d. Liabilities : To sundry creditors, £7,963 18s 2d; balance, £1,655 18b 6d: total, £9,619 168 Bd. Assets :. By racecourso, buildings, etc, £8,664 10s sd; furniture, £24 10s 6d ; stock account, £30 10s ; sundry debtors, £763 6a 3d ; cash in band, £136 19s 6d : Total, £9,619 16s Bd. In moving the adoption of the reporb and balance-sheet, the Chairman eaid -.—The Club is again in a sound financial position, notwithstanding the losses of tbe seasons 91-92 and 92-93, and the Club will commence the presenb racing season under favourable circumstances. So soon as bhere is a sufiicieno sum in band to warrant bho building of a new grandataud, thia work must be aeb aboub. The cost of a suitable stand and con. venienceß would nob ba less than £1,500Under existing rules ib would be prudent for tbe incoming commibbeo bo again only hold two meetings, via., the Summer and Winter. I will now refer bo the Racing Conference. Members are awaro that suburban and country clubs are now represented ab these Conference-, and that 1 have been elected delegate for the Auckland district. These Racing Conferences seem to be managed in a mosb extraordinary and unbusinesslike manner, and to be controlled by a section who dominate as they choose. A mooting of the Conference waa bo havo been hold in July, and questions vitally affecting suburban and country clubs were then to be discussed chief among which was the question of added money, bub so far, bhe only meeting held has been a special one to consider the Gaming Act, held after it was practically passed. I received no official intimation of this meeting, bub seeing a paragraph in the Political News thab a meeting was to be held, I called upon Mr Percival to ascertain whether the meeting was to be a general or sptcial one. Ho replied it was a special meeting to consider tho Gaming Act, and that i.o other business would be transacted. The business., however, was nob so restricted, as resolutions were carried re the formation of a New. Zealand .lockoy Club. Wow, why was not a general conference convened before the racing season commenced, and why should a delegate be kept in ignorance as to when meetings are to bo hold . There has been no general conference since July, 1893, and none since the country delegates were elected, so that bhe counbry clubs have so far been ignored, and are not likely to ben.fitthis season, ab any rate, by any new rule which may bo passed by the Conference. The question ot tho establishing of a New Zealand Jockey Club will be discussed ab bhe Conference which is expected to be held ab Christchurch early in November. lam nob prepared at present to say whether I shall support or oppose such a club, but beforo supporting the establishment of whab would really be an appeal court, I should have to be quito satisfied that its constitution would ensure justice to all, and thab the country and suburban clubs were fairly represented on bucli a court. The manner in which business at tho Racing Conferences has been contrived does nob bend bo create a bias in favour of the institution of a New Zealand Jockey Club. The new Gaming; Acb regulates the nuihber of meetings to be hold in fubure ab which totaiisator permits aro to be granted, and the Government were wise in nob allowing those permitß to be issued by a, Now Zealand Jockey Club. Now thab the number of meetings is regulated by law, there is no occasion thab bhe present unreasonable and unjuab resbrictions in raspecb bo added money should continue. Mr J. Mays seconded the adoption of the reporb and balance-sheeb, and tbe motion being put to the meeting was carried. The out-going Committee was re-elected, and tho usual vote of thanks to the officials concluded tho proceedings.