WELLINGTON TROTTING

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 272, 12 August 1943, Page 6

WELLINGTON TROTTING

CLUB Racing Club’s Help Acknowledged “It is only through the generous and sporting action of the committee of the Wellington Racing Club in allowing us the use of Trentham racecourse that w-e are able to meet tonight to consider the operations of the season just ended,” said Mr. J. E. August, president, when moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet at the annual meeting of the Wellington Trotting Club held in Be tone last night. Mr. August added that the palatial appointments at Trentham were much appreciated, and there appeared to be no doubt that the success of future meetings held by the club at Trentham was assured. The president said it was a matter of concern that the Government would not allow extra permits in aid of the patriotic fund. The Government received its usual large share of taxation from such meetings and then gave a portion of the taxation back to the fund by way of ® £ for £ subsidy. The Patriotic Fund Board netted £2620 from the club’s patriotic meeting held in September. The board had broadcast that its quota was well behind, yet the Government would, not allow clubs to hold (patriotic meetings, nox jvould it allow more than 40 days’ trotting a season. This urgent matter was recently opened .by the Trotting Conference, but so far without result. There was nothing the elub could do other than to record' an emphatic .protest against the existing (position. The annual report revealed that the net profit of £3055 was the second largest ever recorded (by the club. .The committee’s policy of catering throughout the season for the intermediate class of pacers had been amply justified. (Stakes had been increased, the club giving £9970 for four days, compared with £8950 the previous year, and the committee intended to offer larger stakes this season if financial conditions were maintained. The following were elected stewards after a ballot:—Messrs. J. E. August, IL L. August, A. Anderson, E. P. Armstrong, D. G. Fraser, F. S. Hewer, J. McDonald, V. C. McPhail, H. Murphy, H. E. Nicholls, A. Pirie, A. Pope, H. A. Ryder, John Sharpe, and E. B. Wainscott. The newly-elected stewards to vacancies created by tlie death of Mr. S. W. Kelly and the retirement of Messrs. J. Bentley and M. C. Walker, are Messrs. Fraser, Murphy and Wainscott. There were five further unsuccessful aspirants. The president informed the meeting that finality had been .reached -with the Government over the terms for the use of Hutt Park. The club received £2BBB a year, payable monthly. This sum covered caretaker’s wages, depreciation, the club’s rent to the Hutt Park Committee, ordinary repairs to buildings, and sundry upkeep. The meeting passed a unanimous vote of thanks to the office bearers and officials of the Wellington Racing Club for their valued advice and assistance while the club was holding its meetings at Trentham. Mr. E. E. Brooking suggested that as a means of furthering the interest of people in trotting in and round Wellington, the (dub should consider subsidizing one of the prominent trainers to settle at Hutt Park. Half the fun in owning a horse, said the speaker, was in watching it work. If more horses were trained locally the club would be less dependent on Christchurch and Auckland for its fields. The president said he knew there were many men who would, race horses if they could get them trained locally, but trainers said they preferred to train in Christchurch, where feed was cheaper and opportunities for racing were greater, and pay the cost of travelling to Wellington. There was also the difficulty of broad acres in the Hutt v alley. There was no land available suitable for breeding. . Mr. J. Bentley, who held office since 1922, was elected a life-member of the club.