FRANKLIN RACING CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 183, 4 August 1936, Page 14

FRANKLIN RACING CLUB.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. PROFIT ON SEASON. (From Our Own Correspondent.) PUKEKOHE, Monday. "You may feel justly pleased with the progress the club has made during the past financial year,".stated the president,' Mr. F. A. Hosking, at the annual, meeting of the Franklin Racing Club this evening. The annual race meeting, held in March, was most successful, and yielded a profit of £1829, inclusive of the £500 refund of totalisator duty. In accordance with the agreement entered into last year.with the Bay of Islands ;-' Racing Club, v that club's meeting was also held at Pukekohe, and was in -every., way;' Very successful.. In improvements and maintenance the past year's works were the most extensive undertaken for some years. A report on the layout of the course was obtained, and the club was advised not to alter the course proper. The - proposal to :.erect a stand had to be abandoned, it being found . that a suitable stand could not be erected for the money which it was considered advisable-to allocate. The committee, therefore, adopted an alternative scheme of improvements, portion of which had ' already been put into effect. The sum of 1 £916 had already been spent on maintenance and improvements', including the 1 piping and levelling of the members' en- • closure, while other . large works were ' under way. 1

In dealing with finance, Mr. Hosking eaid that increases were made in stake money for both meetings held during the year, and he would strongly recommend further increases in keeping with the club's improved financial position during the coming year. A measure of relief Avas granted to clubs towards the end of 1935 through the reduction of the slakes tax, and by the increase of the refund of totalisator duty. Further relief 'from taxation was necessary, however, before much improvement in the financial position of racing generally-conld be expected. Hie .present inclination on the part of owners and train-ers to race overseas was a disturbing feature, but no blame could l)e attached to them; their difficulties in this country were only too real.

The balance-sheet revealed a profit of £973 for the season, the club's income being £6870, and expenditure £5897. The main items of expenditure were: Taxes, £2210; stakes, £1285; course maintenance and improvements,' £916; interest, £354.

The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. F. A. Hosking ; vice-presi-dent, Mr. Robert Fulton; executve committee, Messrs. J. Beatty. A. F. Blown, G. Carter, S. J. Clews, W. Dazeley. J.' Hall, A. Jones, J. -N. Massey, J. McInt.vre, -F. G. Parker, J. J. Reynolds and P. L. Short.'