WAIRARAPA CLUBS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 29, 3 August 1931, Page 4

WAIRARAPA CLUBS

ANNUAL MEETINGS

(By Telegraph.) . (Speoial to "The Evenino Post.") CARTEB.TON, This Day. The annual meeting of the Carterton Racing Club was held at Carterton ou Saturday, Mr. W. Howard Booth, president, presiding over a fair attendance of members. In moving'the adoption of the report and , balance-sheet, the president said that the loss on the year's workinghad been £375 3s 3d, after allowing £206: IBs lOd' for depreciation. Racing clubs were passing through a difficult pel'iod, and during the year this had been aggravated by a further increase of 2 1/& .per cent, on totalisutor investments, and a substantial increase in the amusement tax. A point of exhaustion had been reached, he considered, and the most rigid economy should be exercised. He sought an expression of opinion from the members as to whether the race meeting this year should bo abandoned, members to pay their subscriptions as donations, and by this means assist the finances of the club. On the other hand, if a meeting were held, expenses could be cut by a. reduction in stakes, and a fair amount of/voluntary 'labour from stewards and members. He quoted figure* showing how. taxation had been levied during the past two racing seasons. In the 1929-30 season the total amount of taxation collected was £405,408 ISs 2d, and for the 1030-31 season, notwithstanding an increase in. taxation, the sum of £349,666 0s lid was collected, a shortage of £55,742 17s 3d compared with the previous year. Taxation now amounted to 17V& per cent., equal to 3s 4'/-:d in every £1, of which Is lOMsd went to the Government, and Is tfd to the club from every £1 invested. Mr. Booth said that he agreed with the recent remarks of Sir Michael Myerd with regard to the bookmaker and his calling.. It seemed to him absolutely farcical that these men - and their agents in • every village throughout the length of the country should be allowed to .operate and flout the laws of the State. ■' If the money, with or without legitimate taxation, were placed with the totalizator, racing : clubs would not bo in, the wretched position, or many of them, at any rate, they are in to-day. He considered that telegraphing of money to theV'totnlisator would largely obviate this practice. ■ , . . ■ Other speakers were . not iv favour of the-.idea., to pass over a race meeting for one year, it being pointed-out that tho interests of racing men had to be considered along\ with those' of the club. A reduction in expenses was possible, and the. club was paying far.more in stake money, than was required by the rules of racing. ... '.'.'. The report and: balance-sheet were adopted. ■"■■-'■■ "■ '. Officers Svei'c elected, as under:—Patron, the-Hon. A. D; M'Leod; .president, Mr. W. Howard Booth; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. Reid and L. H. Smart; hon. treasurer, Mr. P. A. Cole; auditor, Mr. R. J. Chapman; "stewards; Messrs."A. E. Booth, W...C.,De11er,. J..C. Harp, -E. J. Matsou, V. L: Robinson, and A. C. Tucker; hon. surgeons; Drs. Wells', W. H. Young, and R. Campbell. Dr. Johnston, who had been an honorary surgeon for many years, having now left the district, was elected a life member of the chib in appreciation of his ser--vices. . ■'■.■'.... One new.member was elected.