A POPULAR SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 65, 14 September 1943, Page 7

A POPULAR SPORT

FACILITIES OVERTAXED •

The support being accorded ' race meetings today had resulted in the appointments at Trentham being overtaxed, remarked the president, Mr. E. L. Biddiford, at the annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Club* The fact that some of the club's facilities were not available aggravated the position. The stewards were fully conscious of this problem and the inconvenience it was causing, but under existing conditions it was not possible to undertake any broad scheme of expansion that would cope with the situation. Measures of a temporary nature had been taken to extend totalisator facilities, but any big scheme to deal comprehensively with the problem would have to be deferred till the war was won and labour and materials became available on a normal basis. Mr. Riddiford made reference to the club's deep sense of appreciation of the efforts of the fighting services, and also paid a tribute to those working on the home front to keep the fighting services equipped and maintained. Appreciative reference was also made to the work of the staff, the stewards, the Railway Department for its cooperation, and the Press for their publicity efforts for the good of the sport. In seconding the adoption of the annual report, Mr. R. L. Macalister pointed out that the club was no,w a payer of income tax; £12,000 was paid last year and provision was made to find £28,000 this year. Further, the club had given more than £12,000 to patriotic funds in the past two seasons. All the club asked for in time of war was to exist as an entity. It was important that it should do so to provide that relaxation that would prevent people from becoming war-weary. In reply to Mr. T. Coltman, the secretary stated that the waiting list for membership applications numbered 60. Mr. Coltman suggested that at. next year's annual meeting the stewards should submit a plan or scheme of what was proposed to be done to extend the existing facilities for members and thus overcome the existing congestion. The president said it was probable that this would be done.

' Mr. W. A. Fordham inquired if it was nojt Dossible to install a 10s totalisator in tlTe members' stand. The president explained that the materials were not procurable, but this would be attended to in the post-war scheme of improvements.

Mr. J. E. August, president of the Wellington Trotting Club, expressed his club's thanks to the racing club for permission to- race at Trentham on Saturday. The following officers, who retired in accordance with the rules, were reelected:—President, Mr. E. L. Riddiford; vice-president, Mr. H. R. Chalmers;' stewards, Messrs. H. P. F. Blundell, T. B. Heath, C. H. Mitchell, B. C. Rennie: C. M. Turrell: auditors, Messrs. O. G. Kember and G. B. Macmorran.