"AU REVOIR."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 199, 23 August 1930, Page 17

"AU REVOIR."

CTAHUHU TROTTING CLUB.

final meeting of members.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

The annual meeting of .the .members of the Otahuhu Trotting Club was held at the club rooms, O'Connell ves, terday afternoon. The president, Mr..li :R-i Mackenzie, presided, and in the adoption of the .report and , sheet (already'published): said: : : "This is the last meeting that we shal have as members under the name of the Otahuhu Trotting Club, but I want, to impress upon you all that the clu known as the" Auckland Trotting Club i? a combination of both clubs, and I am going to ask you all to retain your membership, and give the loyal support that you have always given m the past to the new amalgamation/and with your wholehearted support we will attain the object we have in view of promoting the sport of trotting in Auckland. Third Biggest Club. "We have 'every reason to: look , back with pride to the Success and good work done by the Otahuhu Trotting Club in fostering the support of trotting, lhe stakes we were giving, although; we only had four days' trotting, entitled us be classed as the third biggest trotting club :in" the Dominion.; We looked ahead for the future, and owned : a splendid trotting track at\Otahuliu; second to none in New Zealand, and did everything in our power t'o assist owners and trainers, and I feel sure under the amalgamation that the same assistance -will be given, for wb are ; a)l there with one objcct in view, to give the public good and clean sport. "The Prime Minister stated that he must have more revenue, if so; why not tax some commodities that escape taxa-tion-altogether. - For instance crude oil, of which 'sixty million gallons are imported -yearly, ! twenty-sevjen million gallons, from the U.S.A. and thirty-three million' gallons' from ..the Dutch West Ir.dies, both foreign countries, escapee taxation altogether. Thirty million gallons of this is used on the land, and thirty million gallons on the sea. The oil ti&ed' olt the • land -is putting a lot of people .oyt of work, as it is replacing coal, etc. However, results will prove the'truth- of my words. v , ,'77vVv?V.. Races fer Juveniles.. - • • "j quite agree with the views expressed by the president -of the Auckland Trotting Club, that two'and tliree-year-oldj races should jbe placed oil the pro-'' Qne£ish#ald certainly berried at. present owners liaVe their? tWo.-}'ear -olds turned out in the paddock, as they have no races to look forward to. By encouraging these races we may get more owners in -game. There is"no-doubt that trotting is ri'oit, gaining' ground as it should in 'Auckland.; n6. new Owners are coming into-'.the ; sport, .-- and no new horses. Why this is and.how to remedy the matter, will be the of the new committee. "The handicappingjsysteip is have another year's trial,':and iHhink if the handicapper's" carry "out their" handicaps as laid down by the system it should work out all right, but there is one alteration that I think should be made, and-tjiat is, when a; horse has done better, sayf-than <4.27; to the two miles, then the handicapper should use his own discretion, as the system has put all the good horses on tight marks out. of the gdme. Under the new system a'horse may have done 4.22, but cannot be put on a tighter mark than, say, 4.27. Pity the Game. , "In conclusion I say 'au revoir,' but. not. good-bye. We will, I hope, associate for the fut'ure;as'we;have in the past. I thank you all for the wonderful help a,nd assistance you have given me at all times. It has been a most enjoyable time for we being associated with such good sp©rts. We have made a success of our old club, and I sincerely hope that. the object of the amalgamation to better the interests of the sport, will be achieved, and it can be done by all;,working, together and 'playing the game.'"