WELLINGTON T.C.

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1936, Page 15

WELLINGTON T.C.

ANNUAL MEETING

It appeared that the club's financial troubles were behind it, said Mr. J. E. August, president of the Wellington Trotting Club, at the annual meeting last night. There was an attendance of approximately 100 members. The past season, though difficult financially, was most < successful, proceeded Mr.'August. It -was proved that under ordinary conditions the club could hold successful two-day meetings. The year also marked the start of Wellington's first : trotting classic—the Wellington Stakes. ..; Pespite bad. weather, the financial returns showed a distinct advance oh the previous year. The club was able to see its way clear financially to embark on a building improvemerit and extension programme. i:<;'r" .

Stakes for the September Meeting would be £ 1250, as against £.1100 for last .year's corresponding meeting. As finance improved stakes would be increased for other meetings., The bank overdraft had been reduced by £225, and £12t had been spent in capital expenditure at Hutt Park. Had the weather been good, Mr. August said, he had no doubt the bank overdraft would now have,, been wipjedVout.. 1J; appeared-^he chub's finaijpial troubles ■were .behind it, and it could.'JL6p3c:;ipri- ;- ward to the future with ; tjie •; utmost confidence. . .'..^v':;-^ ■. .^■'- "'■:- '.'■'

; It".< was: ; : proposed-^:; extend . the stewards' ; 45f t to "the' '• west. ■It would be carried out in'poncret^ walls with a steel cantilever ..roof. * The idea was, when finances permitted, to' pulji' ddwn' 'the present stewards' ; v wooden stand and extend over thcvsife in ,th^ more solid construction to hi&tch the .new.-.^tj-ucture,, 'The.-.- grpujid-.floor of •the new" portion would be' ifsed' as a guests'; tearoom:' -Thei-firft >fjpor would' be divided ■ into" a spacious lobby, judiejal\ committee room, and president's and stewards' entertainment room. The seating accommodationwould be half , as large:"again as at 'presents It. was proposed to .turn the present stewards' social, room into ,a ■members' social, room and tb- enlarge the:members' bar.. A small totalisator1 would be installed :in the members' social room , for ■the convenience of members, stewards*- and guesjte. - The architect's estimate of cost for the hewi portion was>Jv23oo,- plus- architect's fee £150, alterations to the present wooden portion £;25Q, furnishings. 3n4 incidentals £200;. a total of £2900., To this had.to be added the .present bank overdraft of £1600, making a grand■ total pi £4500. ,It , r would be necessary, to.provide for a £5000 overdraft. 'To finance this: it;' .wasi pro-, posed to release the: present guarantors "and-call for. fresh -guarantors, jeaeb. in the sum of a£2oo. It ; wbuld be necessary' to have 'at least' 40' guarantors to: obtain the i amount '■ of tbe overdraft. To the present the response had been good, and it was not thought there would be any difficulty in obtaining the required number.

Mr. M. J, Reardon asked if the two off days of the two. two-day meetings (February and March) did by themselves Justify the venture of the stewards in running two-day meetings.. The first, or off day, in February would have resulted in a £150 profit in- face of higher stakes, but the next day of the meeting was wet and a loss was made; replied the secretary (Mr. W- .Pere).: :'. ' .•; . -■'..' -~ '~■•

The working of the two' days in March Avas-so closely related it was not possible to state. the position, but the best guide was the fine Wednesday An February, .which was very successful. '*.•■■.■' .'. *; ■:.'' ■■■- . ■; ': ■-V ■

'.Mr. Beardpn ssked the club's position m view of the statement of the Minister ,of InterpaL Affairs that he was entirely opposed to "swapping" dates. The club ;would have to be content with four days this season in view of that statement, and carry on the agitation, for extended racing permits. Until the overdraft was wiped out it might be better to sfick to the Saturday meetihgs-^Saturday would be a bigger day< after September 1. Fotty more trotting days had been applied for, arid the Minister had stated he did not see why extra days should not be granted, replied the chairman. Some southern clubs were starving for extra days. The 5s unit was introduced during the depression to meet depleted public finances, said Mr. August. Now that the economic position showed improvement, the need for such.a low betting, unit had disappeared. Perhaps it did assist in maintaining the investing public during -the' depression. There, had been no complaint from owners and trainers of ,win-.and-place betting which , certainly- assisted to swell finances, ; r j ..-.-.. •-.-,- The election of' stewards resulted:— Messrs. J. E. August; Hi- L; -August, A. Anderson, E. P, Armstrong, J. Bentley W. 11,... Edwards, F. S. Hewer, A. L. Johnson,-;, S.W; Kelly, J.. McDonald, A. Pope, -A. Pirjfi, K. A. Ryder,'John Sharpe, and M. C. Walker.- : The only new steward is Mr. A, Anderson, a Hutt Valley Power Board member: . It was decided to draw the Highways Board's attention to the state of trie surface of the Hutt pipe bridge in wet weather.