EGMONT RACING CLUB

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 July 1928, Page 3

EGMONT RACING CLUB

FORTY-SEVENTH YEAR. SEASON REVIEWED. MEMBERS’ ANNUAL MEETING. Eighty-eight members of the Egmont Raping drub were in attendance at the forty-seventh annual general meeting, held at the Borough Council Chambers, Hawera, last evening. Mr J. Gray, president, occupied the chair. “I aim pleased to be able to say that the club’s race meetings have been very successful, the May meeting particularly being one of the most popular winter fixtures the club lias experienced,” said the president in moving the adoption of the report (already published) and balance sheet. “I regret that circumstances demanded a reduction in stakes of approximately 8 V per cent., but this was predicted at the last annual meeting, and! the present balance sheet shows the action of the committee to have been necessary. The great majority of racing clubs have also had to economise in this direction. It should be remembered, however, that this means a hardship to racehorse owneys, who are already heavily taxed and the reduction of stake?, must not be overdone. “The repairs and maintenance charges are again a heavy item of expenditure, but the committee recognises ■ that the club’s property must be welli

maintained, and the repairs effected to buildings could not well be delayed. A heavy item in the maintenance account is* £l3O, being cost of repairs and overhaul of the totalisator machine. The machine is now in first-class order and should require very little attention for some years to come. “The; permanent improvements this year include a caretaker’s cottage and a new fence to; enclose the trotting training track. On inspection of the old cot- ■ tage, it was found to be in a very bad condition and unfit for removal to a drier situation. The committee therefore decided upon a new building erected near the Fantliam Street entrance, and this is now complete and will be a distinct improvement to the property. “Trotting owners and trainers have for some years requested the club' to fence the training track- in the interests of the safety of drivers and horses. O'wing to -sheep straying on the track, and this, work is now complete. “General ‘expenses, have been kept down to a minimum and show a decrease on last year, while the farming committee is to be congratulated on showing a substantial profit in that account. Gate receipts and totalisator showed a small general increase and after writing down the improvements bv £SOO, I consider the carrying forward of £153 14s 3d as net profit for the year tr> hr>, vp.rv on tisfaetnrv. ”

“I think.the committee deserves ou.r thanks l and congratulations on making the grounds productive during the period the area was not required for racing,” said Mr A. Gray in calling attention to the credit balance of £470 shown on the farming account. MiGray thought that the use thus made of the land would help to a large measure in combating the statements of opponents of racing to the effect that considerable area® were kept in an unproductive state’ by ’ racing clubs throughout the Dominion. The report and balance sheet were adopted without further comment. ELECTION OF OFFICERS,

The election or office bearers for the ensuing year resulted as follow : President: Mr J. Gray ue-elected unopposed). Vice-president: Mr A. Good (reelected unopposed). Hon. treasurer: Mr S. Adamson re-elected unopposed). Committee.: Messrs J. H, Baker, H. I. Crocker, R. Hicks, G. G. Lareom, W. McL’Dowie, O. J. Preston, 11. Spratt. S. Cl Tanks, and W. O. Williams (reelected), and M. F. Purser and T. J. Salmon. Stewards: Messrs J. IT. Baker, H. T. Crocker, W. Good, R. Hicks, G. G. Bar com, W. MeL’Howie, H. Spratt, S. O. Tonics, and \V. O'. Williams (re-elect-ed), and M. F. Purser and T. J. Salmon. Auditor: Mr W. A, Quin (re-elect-ed). New members were elected as follow : Messrs; W. P. Corcoran, G. A, Duncan, J. FVerett, J. J. Goodwin, W. J. Linkhorn (Hawera), O. J. Belcher, R. Knuckey (Eltham), T. Joyce (Okainwa). and Ri. J. Morris (Opunake).

REPORTS BY AVIR FILESS. . Replying to a question raised by Air J. F. Stevenson concerning the reason for the objection of the Racing Conference to wireless broadcasting at race meetings l , the president explained that the decision of the conference against broadcasting was the result of a compact between the Trotting and Racing Conferences and in taking that attitude the-two bodies bad been guided mainly by the adverse police report. The facilities a broadcast would offer for tlie operation of bookmaking was apparently the reason for the opposition of the police inspectors. The decision of the Racing Conference had been almost unanimous.

The prevention of racing reports deprived' the wireless service of a percentage of its value said Mr Stevenson, who expressed himself as not being fully convinced with the explanation of the attitude of the conference. Unless some more definite reason was advanced by the racing authorities; for their opposition it would appear that further consideration should he given the question.

Mr T. A. Winks said it appeared that as the result of the compact referred to by the president, delegates to the- conference had been allowed little chance in the matter.

PUBLICATION OF DIVIDENDS. All- E. Cann considered that the practice of broadcasting descriptions and results of races together with legal sanction to the telegraphing oi totalisator investments and the publication of dividends -would tend to; eliminate bookmaking. He moved that the meeting . recommend tlie Government to legalise; the telegraphing of investments to- the totalisator and also the publication of dividends. The motion was seconded by Air S. Larcomi and was carried unanimously. Air T. A. Winks urged the advantages of wireless broadcasting in the convenience the system afforded country residents in securing prompt results of races. He moved that the Riacing Conference be recommended to permit the re-adoption of wireless broadcasting during race meetings. The motion was seconded by Air Cann and was also adopted unanimously.