"REACHED THE PEAK."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 206, 1 September 1938, Page 28

"REACHED THE PEAK."

A PRESIDENT'S VIEW,

ROTORUA RAGING CLUB

(By Telegraph—Special to " Stur. ,, ) ROTORUA, thie day. An opinion that interest in racing in Aew Zealand had readied the peak during tiie puet tive years, and that there wae a pcweibility oi a decline setting in within i the near future, wan expressed by Dr. ! H. Bertram, president of the Rotorua ! Kacing Club, at the annual meeting on luesday evening. The president pointed out that although stake money had been raised for the laet Kotoiua meeting the gross receipts fell short of the previous year. j "I am not referring particularly to • Kotoiua and the surrounding district*, but lather to general reports from all pai Ui of the Dominion when I eay that i racing has reached the peak," stated Dr. Bertram. "1 do not want to appear; pessimistic, but 1 think the club should consider the possibility that a decline will set in when the question of etake money w considered." | A number of speakers were in favour of paving the etake money as at present, "«d after a lengthy discussion Mr. P. Kinniiimont moved an a recommendation to tJie incoming committee that the stakes be not reduced during the present season. Unique Trophy Offered. J The Ohinemutu Hack Cup will in future ' be known as the C. A. Clarke Memorial' Hack Cup. A letter was received from a member of the late Mr. Clarke's family stating: "W e thought it would be appropriate and unique if we presented a Maori carved cup, and with this end in view we have a bushmaii trying to secure a suitable piece of wood for this purpose (honeysuckle). Our idea was to have it turned in a lathe by an expert, polislied and then carved. We thought it would be not only unique, but also would probably be a big incentive to owners , to try and capture it, thereby benefiting the cliib. If , by any chance we are not able to attain our desire in thie direction we should like to present a silver cup to the value , of, say, 23 guineas." i