SPORTING.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16881, 8 July 1920, Page 10

SPORTING.

Orders are now being taken fcjr copies «f the '"New Zealand Turf Register'' for the season 1910-20. at 12s (id per fopy. The book will be published early next month, prior to the New Zealand (irand National Meeting. As only a limited number Tvill be printed, orders :-ltoo]d be sent in without delay. Nominations for tho Brack<*nfield Hunt Club's Steeplechase Meeting close 1 n-morrow. Acceptances_for the Wellington Racing Club's "Winter Meeting dose torn arrow. Happy Captain, Gang Awa, and Pyiania, who were operated on a few days ago for throat troubles, are all doing uelL Moorfors-1 is making a noise, and it looks as if the best hns been seen of her. CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB. At the monthly meeting of lie Canterbury District Committee, the following- programmes "'orv passed:—Christ church. Hunt Cinb Point to Point Steeplechase, July 27th: Brackenfield Hunt Club. July 31st; find Geraldine Racing Cluh, September HOih and October Ist (subject to the approval of the Conference). Gentlemen riders' certificate*; were prnsted to John Meechaa and H. Rownoy. The transfer of Jazz from F. G. Harden io G. L. Rutherford wae approved. METROPOLITAN TROTTING CLUB. AXNTXAL MEETING. rho animal meeting of tho New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting* Club was held yesterday afitiijioon, Mr J. Xi. vicepreeident, being in tho chair. Ho annual report and balance-sheet (already published), was taien aa read.

The chairman apologised for the aieeiico of tho president, tho Hon. C. Ixxuiseon, M_L.C., who wrote that he wa3 detained by iiia Parliamentary duties in Wellington. In moving the adoption of the report sr.d bal-unce-sheet Mr Williams said that they could congratulate themselves on the club's position, as disclosed by the accounts. The year under review was the best year the Hub had ever had; it might not have such m good year again. It was quite on the cards that the club would have to pay income tax for past years, and for years to come: the income tax payable by the club in respect of tho past throe years would probably run into , thousands of pounds. Itetrarding tho resolution parsed at the previous annual meeting l —that the nomination and acceptance fees should bo decreased by l per cent.—the committee had not given effect to it, and ho might tell Mr Smith (who had Bked a question on the subject when the minutes had been confirmed) that a recommendation from an annual meeting was not binding on tho committee. Tho recommendation had been very carefully considered by the committee, which had come to the conclusion that it would be inadvisable to reduce tho nomination and acceptance feea. In coming to that conclusion they had had in view the likelihood of the club being called upon to pay income tax. If they had to sive away all they got from the totalisator in stakes, they must have something to come and go on- Mr Smith seemed aggrieved because tho resolution had not been given effect to, but he could assure hi™ that the committee's decision was arrived at only after very careful consideration, Mr W. J. M. Hopkins seconded £bo motion. Mr A. Smith said that he had to bow to the chairman's ruling-- probably he had more experience .than tho speaker, who was "getting on" for three ecore and ten. He hnd always understood that a resolution arrived at by an annual meeting was binding on tho committee .to give effect to. If that was not tho case, 1 there was no use in holding an ann-Ufiil meeting. It was only waste of tim«? to agree to motions if they were to bo put in the waste T paper basket. If the committee did not intend to carry out tho resolutions of the annual meting, they should call the club a proprietary club, and let the members stay at home. He would move a straight-out resolution:—"Thai nomination and acceptance fees during the present year • be reduced by one-third." Anyone who had to do with horses knew that it was impossible to keep them going except at great expense: gear, shoeing, and .keep had all gone up 100 per cent. Th® railways were going to charge a groat deal more for carrying horses; the day of free travelling on the railways was ptret. The Union Company was charging 100 per cent, more for carrying bones. If the club was to be kept going it would have to encourage the email ■man. He noticed that in Australia that the . uominaticsss were free in respect of races up to £2000. Mr H. P. Bridge: I take it that a recomsamdation is not binding on the Committee? The chairman: I will deal with that matter later. Mr T. R. Leech asked for an explanation of the item: Totalisator dividends, £U*34l '3a 6d. The chairman eaid that it represented the percentages taken oft Mr Leech also commented on the item; Luncheon, £t32 2s Id, and eaid that in past years, when Hie total was £250. there had been a great deal of complaint abo"at the expenditure.

The chairman pointed out that th& cost of catering had gono up very considerably. Referring' to Mr Smith's motion, ho said that he could not take it at that gtago of the proceedings. The motion to adopt the report and bal-anoe-eheot was agreed Co uxtanimcrasly. • The chairman announced that only the required number of nominations had been received, and 1m declared the following' to be elected officers of the club President, Hon-. C." Loaiseon; vice-president, Mr J. H. Williams; treasurer, Mr J. S. Williams; committee, Messrs E. Foct, F. E. Graham, and "\V. Hayward; stewards, Messrs J. C. Clarkson, P. E. Graham, "W. H. Holliss, "W". Hayward, W. H. Norton, C. M. Ollivior. J. S. Slade, G. "W. C. Smithson, J. "Weeterman, and J. "Wood. Mr G. E. Woy ■was reappointed auditor. Mr Smith then moved:—"That nominar ■Hons and acceptances be decreased by onethird on account of the extra cost to horse.keepers, and the increase in fares and travelling expenses." Mr Leech seconded the motion. Mr J. S. 'Williams pointed out that effect could not be given to the motion, if agreed to, as the club's programme for the year had been passed by the Association, 'had been printed. Mr J. Wood said that in view of the> increase in stakes of £11,000, and of the likelihood of the club, being colled upon to pay income tax, it would be unwise to reduce the fees.

Mr Bridge said that & recommendation from the annual meeting: was not binding l on the committee; a direction would bo. Mr Smith.: I hare recommended and done everything.you state, and nothing has been done! Beplyxng to Mr E. Brown, the chairman said that at present the nomination and . acceptance fees were 1J per cent, of the scake. Mr Brown said that the fees were very reasonable*. He would rather see the stakes increased. By reducing the fees to next to nothing he thought that they would have horses competing that ought not to compete. (Hear, hear.) On being' put- the motion was last on the " -nrices. Mr Smith brought up the question of the ' proportion of office rent and other expenses paid by the Canterbury and New Brighton Clubs, and suggested that the committee should. go into tho matter with a view of ' readjusting' the amounts paid by the two clubs mentioned. He did not tlunk, from the information given in the balance-sheet, that they were payincr equitable proportions. The chairman said that the committee -would go into tho subject. On the motion of Mr Bridge, seconded by Mr Smith, it was agreed to recommend the r committee to talco into consideration the ' question of providing cloak and lavatory accommodation for members. Mr Leech suggested that a table o! dis- ! traces and times should bo given in the ' club's iace books. The chairman said that the committee * would consider tho suggestion. Votes of than&B to the chairman and to tie office and ground staffs concluded the vmeeling'.