TROTTING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 45, 21 August 1930, Page 7

TROTTING

WELLINGTON CLUB

SUCCESSFUL SEASON

Last year was the most successful in the history of the Wellington Trotting Club, both in the attendances and the amount of money invested on the totalisator, said the president (Mr. R. A. Armstrong) at the annual meeting of the club, which was held at Petone last evening. There was a very large attendance ■of-members. In presenting the annual report and balance-sheet, which have already been published, Mr. Armstrong said it was no exaggeration to say that the past year bad been a very strenuous one, aud that the work done at the Hutt Park could only be described as siipendous. The club took its courage in its bands and incurred an overdraft of £(5000 to.carry out the very much-needed improvements. The result had fully justified the club's action. When the further improvements to which the ■ stewards had committed the club were earned out, .'. about £4000 of- tbe overdraft would be absorbed, but there was no doubt that with luck the club, would be out of debt at the end of the coming season. Reference was made by Mr. Armstrong to the fact that, due to circumstances over which it had-no control, but did its best to prevent, the club had to complete the work.which the contractor found himself unable to do. Credit for the completion must be given to Mr. J. August, who supervised tbe work on behalf of the club, and without whose assistance it could not have been nearly so well done. "Already," said Mr. Armstrong, "a start has been made with the juilding of a grandstand for the outside public, who have stood by the club always. The work now being carried on also includes accommodation for- horses and trainers, and will provide a track for all weathers."

THE CINDER TRACK. Mr. Armstrong detailed the difficulties encountered in connection with the cinder track which, in his opinion, was now one of the finest south of the line. This was borne out by the performances of Wellington horses elsewhere. They could only have got as fit as they were on the cinder track at the Hutt Park. SATURDAY RACING.

Considerable emphasis was laid by Mr. Armstrong on the necessity, if it would progress and prosper, for the Wellington club having inviolate its four separate Saturdays in the year for racing. It had been decided by the dates committee that the club should race on mid-week days. "The question of facing days," he said, "is worrying the stewards a lot. The dates committee has asked us to hold a two-days' meeting. .We have tried it before and that way is no good to us. We do not lose hope of getting the dates altered by November, before which time we cannot hold our first meeting. It is too serious, a matter to let go. Christchurch owners aro very sorry to see the club has to race on a mid-week day. Unless a sound reason can be given for the change we should not be debarred from our four separate days. We pride ourselves on looking at everything from a national viewpoint, and not in any parochial spirit, but there has been no national reason advanced why-we'should not have our dates.

Mr. E. M. Findlay, as one interested in both trotting and racing, congratulated the club on its fine achievements, and wishad it all future success. As a member of the dates committee of the Trotting. Conference, he saw no reason why the Wellington Trotting Club should be "robbed" of its four separate Saturdays. In reply to a question, the president said that the cinder track would be open at any time for track work. A question was asked whether the club would be prepared to least the park for whippet racing. The president gavo a negative answer.

The question was asked whether women could not become members of the club. Tlie president said that a notice of motion would be necessary for that 'matter to be considered. Widows of deceased members were given all the privileges of the club. A member wanted to know whether the trotting meetings ■ would be broadcast. Although not antagonistic to broadcasting, the club will follow the decision of the New Zealand Trotting Conference. A resolution was carried expressing the hope that the Gaming Bill would be gone on with in Parliament this session.

A resolution was carried respectfully requesting the Trotting Conference Dates Committee to permit the club to race on separate Saturdays as heretofore, thereby avoiding the deprivation of a large number of the members of their day's sport. STEWARDS ELECTED. The following were elected the stewards of the club:— R. -A. Armstrong, J. E. August, H. L. August, J. Bentley, M. A. Carr, J. T. Craig, W. H. Edwards, F. S. Hewer, A. L. Johnson, J. M'Donald, R. M'Whirter, H. A. Ryder, H. E. Ryder, J. Sharpe, J. W. Sharpe.