DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 9010, 24 January 1895, Page 3

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB.

- r " ' m> _' — " Weekly Press, and Iteferee." The annual meeting of members of the Dunedin jockey Club was held on Monday .Jan. 14. There were about forty present, fand the President (the Hon. G. M'Lean) was in the chair. The committee's report was as follows:— The committee, regret 'that the'result of the year's operations is unsatisfactory, and that a somewhat larger deficiency ia shown than at the same time last year.' It will be seen that at the commencement of the year there was' a debit balance- at the bank of £123712s 7d, and that although £105!) was transferred from deposit account in aid of revenue, the year terminated with a debit balance at the bank of £919.4* od, showing our position at the end-or the year to be worse by £731 lis 103. .The receipts for the year from ordinary sources amounted to £12,745 7s, as'against £13.712 6s 3d in the preceding year, showing a shrinkage in earnings of £96918s 3d. On the other hand, the* expenditure for. the year has been £13,47618* 10a as against £14,032 ~lss, showing a 'reduction , as. compared" 'with the previous year of £555 16* 2d. - In order to extinguish the overdraft in current account your committee propose to withdraw a further sum from deposit account. In reviewing the receipts*we find a shrinkage in all our sources of income, but the most noticeable Items are th* decrease from the sale of booths (£26516«) for the last three meetings, during which the licenses were withdrawn, and from entrance fees, acceptances &c (£329 8* 6d). It is satisfactory to note that there has been ' an increase in . the ampunt passed through the totalisator, the sum heing £57,575 as against £54,052 in the previous year—an increase of £3521. Of this, £2984 was obtained at our Spring Meeting. For tbe latter we are no doubt lamely Indebted to the operation of , tbe new Gaming Bill, passed last session

the committee in their endeavours to stop the " walking totalisator" grievance. Notwithstanding, however, that a larger amount was passed through the machine, our revenue from this source was less by £100 2s than the previous year, owing to the fact that we now pay the Government tax out of our commission—collecting only 10 per cent from the public instead of U\ per cent as formerly. The amount of tax paid last year was £86312s Sd, so that the revenue of the club suffered to that extent.

The decrease in our expenditure Is mainly owing to a reduction in stakes, which we last year curtailed by no less a sum than £400. Considerable economies have, however, been introduced in the. matter of salaries and expenses of meetings and further reduction in stakes, of which we shall get the benefit during the coming year. Included in the expenditure is no less, than £532 ISs lid for outlay which will not occur again for some time such as painting the buildings, erecting barbedwire fences, improvements to stewards* stand, providing starting machines, and also loss by robbsry ; so that unless some untoward circumstances eventuate, which your committee do not anticipate, bur expenditure next year should be much less than it has been during the year just closed. Your committee feel justified in holding out a hope that with the improved totalisator receipts and'reduced expenditure a satisfactory result will be shown at next balance, especially it the meetings of the club are favoured with good weather. In this respect we were not fortunate last year. The President, in movinar the adoption of the report, said the report showed a deficiency of £731 on the year's transactions. He regretted that there was not a surplus. The committee had done all they could to meet the emergency that had arisen, but some things that were wholly unexpected on the part of everyone had happened during the year. In order to meet the failing, revenue and to m*ovide for contingencies in the year 1892-93, the committee had reduced the stakes by £790, and in 1893-94 they had reduced them by the still further sum of £780, thinking that would be amply sufficient, for that did not include the redaction consequent upon the reduction in the days, . which amounted to another £750 taken off the stakes. Again, when they thought they were all right, they had reduced the stakes £400, and had also dealt with the officers of the club, and by these other economies effected a reductibn of. something like £550. Amongst the unexpected losses was the amount of %265 for the" sale of booths. This was due to the licenses being, withdrawn: He did not suppose that any of them expected that this would be done, and that the amusements of the people be thus interfered.with; but that simply tbe number of licensed houses would be reduced without refusing the customary accommodation in connection with the different sports. For his part he felt that this was not only unexpected but wrong. Then there, had been a falling off in nominations and acceptances amounting to something like £329. It was very difficult to account for this, though the committee had considered it in everyway. As they were aware, this last year the club had paid the Government tax out of the club's funds, amounting altogether to £880 odd, which it must be admitted was a very large slice of the club's revenue, as they had nearly £1200 a year to pay as rent or interest. . These items added together made considerable inroads into their revenue. There had also been considerable non-recurring expediture, in all about £532, this year. The buildingss had badly wanted painting, and the erection of a barbed wire fence had become necessary. Then they had invested £90 in starting machines, which bad given satisfaction, and would, he believed, continue to do so in a greater degree, while it would save the employment of an'expensive starter. Then there was tbe unfortunate robbery by which they had lost £128. It*was very unfortunate that this should have happened, but after the closest possible investigation he was able to Bay tbe committee were satisfied that no blame in connection with it could attach to.the club's officers.—(Applause.) All reasonable care had been taken by them. He wished to say that he considered' it would be well to revert to the old system, and that the financial, year should cud with the racing year. -Otherwise it was very difficult to know exactly what they were doing in dealing with their estimates of revenue and expenditure. For instance, a large amount of the reductions this year did not come into play in this year's accounts, but would affect'the for the following year, when, he hoped, thelfleflciency would be met. They would ail be glad to see that the totalisator receipts considerably exceeded .those of the previous year. This no doubt was a good deal owing to ihe Gaming Act fiassed, which prohibited "tote" betting. f tbe revenue from the totalisator kept up, he hoped to see the revenue meet the expenditure for the present season. In conclusion, he expressed his willingness to answer any question^. Mr F. Meenan had much pleasure in seconding the adoption of the report. It was not a very satisfactory one, but under the circumstances it was the best that could be produced. As the chairman had explained,'many things had been against them. *■■ There were the matter of booths, the falling off in acceptances, and other things, respecting which the losses had been considerable. As treasurer it might be ..necessary he should make some reference to tbe loss of the money. There was no question that he had handed the money over to Mr James, who had placed It In the safe an usual. Some person must have followed Mr James home, and when he was in bed got. possession of the keys and stole the money. The crime was one that could scarcely have been guarded against—anyone of them might have been robbed in a similar manner—and no one could be blamed for carelessness in connection with the robbery, as an old member of the club he might state that he was.agafn standing for re-election,' and It might be necessary he should state his views upon leading-matters -in connection with the club. As a matter of fact he had always tried to keep the expenditure within the income. For the last two or three years he had been outvoted in these matters, but his idea was that the money they had .In hand should not be spent in racing, as they had been expending it. They ought not to expend more money in racing than they could reasonably expect to get from it—the expenditure should be kept' within the limits of' their income. The money they had in hand' was now , reduced to about £5000, aud it had formerly ; been nearly £8000. Of course it was desirable to present a good programme as a Metropolitan club and to have good stakes, but he thought it would be wiser to keep the money in hand, as the interest would be considerable, and to work within their income. As the chairman has gone fully into matters connected with the club he would not detain them longer, excepting just to state that with the view of rendering the robbery of the club impossible arrangements had been made in future for paying rhe money at once into the bank. The Chairman said they had all been anxious to keep the expenditure within the income, and drastic measures had been taken to effect'that, but losses had occurred which neither.Mr Meenan nor anybody else could ever have expected the club would be called on to meet. The adoption of the report was carried unanimously. Mr James Mills desired to bring forward" A matter of some interest to the meeting, and moved—"That In the opinion of this 1 meeting the reporters of the local newspapers should be present at all inquiries held by the stewards into protests, suspicious riding, &c, and that the incoming committee, being instructed accordingly." It might, he said, seem strange that this , should be proposed by a steward, but in this matter the stewards were not all'of the same opinion. If, however, the meeting was fairly unanimous that would go a iopg wav to ensure the change being effected*. The proposal was.one that had 'been before tho public for some time. It had been frequently commented upon, and he believed would commend itself to everyone. It had been said that theinquiries were necessarily of such a character that it was undesirable they should be held in public or that reporters should be admitted, because the evidence given was often of such a character that tbe stewards had to give judgment against what might appear to be the weight of evidence, having to credit the few sometimes againßt the. many. Well, he had sufficient confidence in the representatives of the press to believe that they would recognise the difficulties the stewards mUht have to face, and would support them. X they did right they need not be afraid of criticism, and all that could be expected of them was that they should do right- according to the best jof their ability. The stewards would recognise that although the membership of the xlob was limited it could hot be considered a private concern. - In some, measure the stewards were the trustees for the public, and their proceedings should, he thought, be open to the public It Whs not of course intended that the public should be admitted—there was no convenience for. that—but that the reporters of the local papers should be present to satisfy the Mr L. M'Lean had much pleasure, In noMinrlintr the reiolUtion.''' ■ ! 1 li_i :

step further and throw all the committee meetings open to the press. Mr Stephenson thought that four men should be appointed stewards who were not horaeowners.

Mr L. M'Lean and Mr J. Toomey thoroughly agreed with the last speaker. Messrs S. Solomon and J. A. Cook spoke strongly in favour of the resolution, which on being put was adopted absolutely unanimously, everyone present voting for it.

Mr P. Miller then moved, Mr J. A. Cook seconded, and it was unanimously resolved —"That it is desirable that the financial year of the club should terminate simultaneously with the racing season, in the middle of the year, and that to bring this into effect the next accounts embrace a period of eighteen month?." Mr. R. Winkfield spoke strongly against the practice of "tote" betting, and said that next year he would name some of those who indulged in it. He urged the committee to do all that was possible to protect tbe interests of the club iv this matter, .

On the motion of Mr. Winkfield, a cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. J. B. Reld, one of the retiring committeemen, for the efficient service* he had rendered the club.—Mr. J. B. Reid, who declined to stand for re-election, warmly acknowledged the compliment paid him, and expressed his gratification at the fact that the members had decided in favour of the admission of press representatives to inquiries held by the stewards.

The Hon. George M'Lean was unanimously re-elected president. Mr John Stephenson was in a similar manner reelected vice-president, aud Mr John Davie auditor.

A ballot was taken for the election of six members of the committee, which resulted in the return of Messrs Meenan, Taggart, Fleming. Cook, Short, and Lintott, the voting; being: P. Meenan 47, W. H. Taggart 45, J. Fleming 40, J. A. Cook 39, J. C. Short 84, 6. S. Lintott 33, and R. Wilson 30.