DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 18999, 22 July 1925, Page 11

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB

MOTION TO INCREASE SUBSCRIPTION LOST

TWO NEW COMMITTEEMEN ■ , i Mr A. C. Hanlon (president) occupied the chair at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club, held last ; night, supported by Mr L. 0. Hazlett (vice-president) and Mr A. 13. Armour (treasurer). About sixty members . were present.' THE REPORT. _ The Chairman, in moving the adoption of tho annual report, said that, although the profit and loss account showed only a profit of £42 12s, which had been accomplished by reducing the stakes last year by £1,725, the bank overdraft had been reduced from £970 11s 6d to £lOl 11s Bd. thus showing a profit of £B6B 12s lOcl on the actual working account, lb was hoped that next year’s operations would ho much more successful, and it was thought that that would he brought about by the fact that they would have the summer and autumn meetings during tho Big Exhibition. There was also the probability of an extra Exhibition meeting , being held, the committee having informed tho Exhibition directors that it is prepared to run a twoday meeting, and to hand over all tho profits provided the Government would forgo the taxation. If this r.ero done, and if the chib put on a first-class programme, it might materially help tho Exhibition. Another tiling which was favorable was that under the new railway regulations horses would be returned from race meetings at half rates. _ This represented a 25 per cent.' reduction, and would be an inducement to owners to send more horses to tho meetings. It was understood Unit tho Government proposed to reduce tho taxation from 21 per cent, to 1 \ per cent, on tho first £20,000 passing through the totali.sator. This, of course, would considerably help the one-day meetings, but unless it wore made a reduction on the first £20,000 per day it would not be any groat benefit to such clubs as theirs. Ho would impress on tho members of tho ckdi the desirability of using tl.oir host endeavors to induce the representatives of_ Parliament in their respective districts to agree to tho reduction being i made on the first £20,000 each day. j During the past year a considerable ' amount had been expended in repairs , and the general upkeep of the course 1' and buildings, but ;hoy wore unable to , go on with tho proposed scheme of improvements until things improved. Tho racing last season had been very clean, ■

aim jree irom iiueuuonai ion; riding. ! The unfortunate mishap whi.di had re- j suited in the death or the joekey P. j Keene had boon a pure, accident, and it had been so lield by tiro coroner. The membership of the club kept on increasing, and now stood at 400, but , the accommodation at Wingatui was unfortunately not sufficient to provide the degree of comfort they would wish. -Mr L. 0. Hazlett seconded the motion. He said that ho find not a great deal of faith in the promises of the Government in regard to « reduction of-taxation. The Government had made a great number of promises in this connection for some years past, but it had not fulfilled them, and he would not believe in them until the reduction took place. It was no use arguing as to who paid the taxes. The fact remained that the Government had used unfair methods of extracting huge sums out of the pockets of the public. The elections, however, were coming on, and rhey should bear this question of reduction of taxation in mind. (Applause.) Mr Armour said that he was prepared. as treasurer, to answer questions about the balance-sheet. None were propounded. Mr J. Mdtowen said he thought they should provide two ways of getting up to the members’ .stand. Mr W. R. Gordon said it was not so much a matter of getting up : s getting down in-the event of lire. Mr J, R. Smith considered something should be done to prevent the people’s hands getting in between, the rail on the stair and the wall. ; Mr G. R, Checseman said they should borrow money and improve the members’ stand. t Mr A. I). Edgar said that in the North Island tho fees for acceptances were lower than in Dunedin. If the fees were; reduced it might encourage owners to bring their horses here. Mr G. Barton considered that tho club should revert to the three-days meeting in the autumn, and cut one of flic davs oil' the winter meeting. Mr d. R. Smith agreed with Mr Barton’s suggestion, and considered that the mi in her of races in the winter should he seven. Mr Barton said that the vVellington Cinb had borrowed a largo sum of mony to improve its course. Ho 1 1 thought the Dunedin Club should hoc- | row £IO,OOO or £12,01)0, and among ■ other improvements make a decent staid for the outside public, end bring tha motors into the old outside stand ' site.

The Chairman, ir. replying, fund that the complaint regauling' the hand rail would bo looked into. As regarded the complaint about the luck rf a fire escape on the stand, it was inn ply a matter of ways and moans. '] be work would cost a considerable amount of money, if the members thought an escape should be put in they had only to say so, and it would bo done, whatever the cost. The acceptance tecs were kept as low ns possible, and he was informed they would compare favorably with any acceptance ■.■ barges in Now Zealand. With regard to tho three-days meeting in the autumn, the club had tried it for a number of years, hut it had proved a failure. Tho throe-days winter meeting had always been r. success, and it was the only mooting that really did pay a docent profit. They must remember that, although the Wellington Club had borrowed a large sum of money, and had one of the best-equipped courses in Australasia, it had a tremendous totaiisator turnover compared with Dunedin. So, also, had Auckland. The Wellington Club, moreover, had scoured £40,000 or £50,000 of its money before the slump occurred, and it was only now expending it on these stands. The motion to adopt the report and balance-sheet was put and .•aiWcd. OFFICE-BEARERS. Mr Hanlon was declared re-elected as president and Mr llazlott as vice-presi-dent. Mr Hanlon said he would do his best to carry rut the wishes of members and to help the club along. Mr’ Hazlett said the members wore so well satisfied with Mr Hanlon that they wanted to keep him there as long ns possible. (Applause.) Mr G. M. MtLcan was re-elected auditor. The ballot for the election of five committeemen resulted in the return of Allan S. Cambridge, W. 11. L. Christie (re-elected), J. A. Cook (re-elected), C. N. Draper, and E. H. Lough (reelected) . Messrs S. S, Myers and J. M. Samson also stood. THE SUBSCRIPTION. Mr A. H. Fisher moved that the annual subscription should bo increased to four guineas. He thought the only way to bring about improvements at tho course was to increase the subscription. They had 400 members and gave out 800 ladies’ tickets, and they could not crowd any more on the stand. They had plans drawn for a ramp on to the stand and for other accommodation. Ho thought they should raise £3,000 or

£4,000, and go on with the improvements at once. . ~ Mr P. W. Mitchell said he. would second tho motion pro forma if the mover would make it clear that the improvements were to be carried out at once. Mr Fisher agreed to the addition. Mr J. It. Smith did not think they should raise the subscription. Ho thought a. charge of 2s Cd or 5s should be made on~eacli motor car to at went on to the course. , , Mr Fisher said they paul. J n taxes out of every tbreo guiiiP as sul> scriptiou. Mr Chris. Hensley said that tyuy members were able to take in theK motor cars free of charge. Mr P. L. Halsted said that in Christchurch they had to pay a subscription of five guineas, and there was a charge for ladies. He thought they should be prepared to pay the additional a,mount. Mr W. R. Gordon strongly opposed the motion. Ho thought it proposed to provide, not for sport, but for the owners. Mr G. R. Che esc man said if they did not Mve, the stakes they would not got the horses. The extra guinea, would pay tho ini crest on tho money required to make the improvements. Mr O. R. Bossence said he thought Mr Fisher should have given more information. Any such, motion as this would reduce the membership. Mi' Fisher might have considered the alternative of reducing the stakes. Mr S. R. Myers moved that the matter bo referred back to the committee for consideration and report. Tho money raised from the increased subscription would enable them to pay tho interest on a considerable amount, and this could be devoted to improvements. The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. Mr Hav.lott said the chib bad already reduced Us stakes considerably—as low as it thought safe. If stakes were reduced to much smaller limits they would find quite a number of horses would disappear from the turf. Mr Hensleyls the committee prepared to say that the improvements will be carried out if the motion is carried? The Chairman: No; we will have to get the money first. Mr Cambridge asked if they were to understand that if they paid the extra subscription they might not get the stand after all. Tho members could not give an intelligent vole on the motion as it stood. Mr B. R. Irwin said be did not want it to go forth Unit all the members ot the committee were in favor of Mr Fisher’s motion. They would .not get money at 5 per cent, to-day. It would be quite a long time before they could do anything with the extra £4OO. A new stand would cost at least £20,000. Mr Fisher, in reply, said they did not want to build a palace. If they could

raise :L-i JKJ[) they could got improved accommodation for llio 400 members, and it would lie suitable for years to come. Mr Armour thought tbev might increase the subscription to join the club to five guineas and leave the sub. as it was. Tlie Chairman referred to the privileges members received for their subscription of three guineas, and said it cost them, roughly, only 10s Gd per day. He said Ihe motion, as added to. prevented members from voting intelligently on it. The motion was lost on the voices by a large majority. A CT.'N OWLTIDG MENTS.

Messrs Draper, Christie, and Cambridge returned thanks lor election, and the Chairman made acknowledgment on behalf of Mr Cook and Mr Lough, who were unavoidably absent. Mr Hanlon went on to speak of the result of the election so far as it meant the retirement of Mr Myers. He said that Mr Myers had been a member of the committee continuously from 1897, and ho felt that the parting with him was because Mr Myers, like many others of thorn, was beginning to feel the weight of years. He referred to the. .several branches of sport in Dunedin in which Mr Myers had played a prominent part for many years, and said lie was one of the truest sports they had ever had in Dunedin. (Loud applause.) The committee intended to propose Mr Myers for a life membership, and ho 'hoped the members at the. next general meeting would see he was elected. (Loud applause.) In the meantime he would propose that they place on the minutes their appreciation of the great services Mr Myers had rendered to their club, and express their regret that after twenty-eight years ho was severing his connection with the committee. He was sure they would always welcome him to their race meetings, 'and that the committee would see that all the privileges would be given to him that could lie extended to a life member. The chairman’s motion was carried by acclamation. Mr Myers returned thanks to Mr Hanlon for the kind words lie had spoken of him. He had always done his best in the interests of the club, and would continue to do so. He thanked all those who had voted for him, and maybe all those who had voted against liim, ns probably he would now have a little mure time to himself. (Loud applause.)