FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 18808, 5 December 1924, Page 5

FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB

COMMITTEE MEETING. A meeting of tho Committee of tjio Forbury Park Trotting Club was lield last night, and was attended by Messrs B > Irwin (president, in tho chair) J. Mi - chell, W. L. Coughlan A G. Neill, R. Greenslado, T. Fogg, T Elliott. 1. i. Ritchie, G. Barton, J. M. Mmson, J. Black, and 11. Andrews. The Chairman welcomed Mr Andrews back to the committee. Mr Andrews had been absent from Dunedin for some nine owing to business reasons. general. Metier was received from the St. Hilda Borough Council stating that it was unable to make a reduction in the charges tor water used for conveniences at the park. It had been found that section 69 of tho Rating Act did not provide for any rates being remitted, when once struck and levied, except on the ground of extreme poverty. Mr Samson said he. did not see why the club should pay on a basis of the use of the water all the jeai round, when it used it for only six days. He thought they should make further representations to the council. He would movc —“That the committee is dissatisfied with the reply, ond that_ the council be asked to reconsider its decision.” Mr Samson said that the park was to all intents and purposes in a similar position to that of an unoccupied house. The owner of a house unoccupied for six months was entitled to a refund of half the rate. Mr Barton seconded the motion, which was carried. ADDITIONAL PERMITS.

Mr H. F. Nicol, president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, forwarded tho following communication At the last meeting of tho conference I informed the delegates, in reply to a nuestion, that the conference would have an opportunity to discuss the allocation of the now permits should tho Gaming Bill pass the House of Representatives. This, however, lias been rendered impossible, owing to the strong stand taken by the Minister of Internal Affairs. In an interview with .Mr Bollard, after the passing of the Bill, I informed him that the conference wished to bo consulted, but he replied that the allocation was in his hands, and that all he desired was the ideas of the executive of the conference, which had to be placed before him promptly, and that he intended to decide himself as to where the permits should go. Jho executive therefore, met and unanimously agreed upon the recommendations, which, in its opinion, would be in the interests of the sport in the dominion. There must be many disappointed dubs and districts, in view of the many applications and the few permits available, but the executive bad done all that is possible, and the final word nests with the Minister.” The Chairman said that nineteen additional trotting permits were to bo granted. He explained that he had attended Ihe meeting of the executive referred to by Mr Nichol, and said that the position was as set out, by him. Ho was not in a position ns v<t to state what the iccommendntions of the executive were. THE RECENT MEETING. The Chairman said that, after allowing for standing charges of £969, the recent meeting showed a small profit of £7l 16s 6d. The totalisator in 1925. showed a profit of £6,033, and in 1324 of £5,421. The gate money fur the corresponding meeting lost year was £1,404, and £1,41 ( for this year's meeting. The amount received from privileges last year was £134, and this year £BS. The money from race books last year came to £364 17s, and this year £527 10s Id. It was rather strange that the gate money show an advance, but the money from the race books was less. Some 793 fewer books were sold at last week’s meeting. Both Mr Goughian and Mr ixcill said the books wore not being sold on the streets till tho Thursday before the meeting. The Secretary (Mr li. L. James) said that tho books had been issued at 10 o’clock on the Wednesday morning. Mr Samson said that, although the gate money was really greater at this year’s meeting, he did not think there was such a- largo crowd present as at the spring meeting in 1923. It was decided to endeavor to issue the books earlier in future. THE NEXT MEETING. The Chairman said (lie next business before the meeting was to allot tho stakes at tho Summer Meeting. The Secretary said that the amount given last year in stake money was £6,550. Mr Samson moved that the programme be left in the bonds of tho Programme Committee, with the suggestion that no race should be less than £2OO to the winner. Mr Barton seconded the motion. Mr Neill said that £1,450 more money was to be given at the Summer Meeting than at the Spring Meeting. The Chairman said that if they took the totalisator turnovers, Forbury Park was paying a greater proportion in stakes than any other metropolitan club in the dominion. Mr Samson said he thought it would be a good advertisement to their club if it could bo said of it that it did not have a race with a less stake than £2OO to the winner. They wanted to give good stakes and tighten up the classes, and this would increase the betting. They might be able to take a few pounds off some of the races at the Summer Meeting, and build up the stake money in other races. Members questioned whether there would be increased betting if the classes were tightened. Mt Mitchell moved as an amendment that the stakes be as previously.

Mr Andrews seconded the amendment, which was carried.