LIGHT HARNESS SPORT

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 31 August 1929, Page 3

LIGHT HARNESS SPORT

HAWERA TROTTING CLUB.

TWENTY-FOURTH YEAR.

MEMBERS ' ANNUAL MEETING

A review of the fifteenth year in which a totalisator meeting ha s been conducted toy the Hawera Trotting Club and the twenty-fourth year _in which a trotting competitive gathering has -boon held under the club’s direction was given at the annual general meeting of members held in the Borough .Council Chambers last OA rening. The president (Mr B. McCarthy) occupied the chair. Some twenty members ,were in attendance and a number, of apologies for absence’ were read. “We may congratulate, members on the fa'et that tve have come out on the right side and shown a profit of £l4B for the season,” said the president in moving the adoption of the report (previously published) and balance sheet. He pointed out, that the profit had been realised through the club investments, the interest on which had returned £IBO and that on actual racing operations a loss had been experienced; Compared with the previous year, nominations and acceptances had shown a decrease of £220. Gate receipts had advanced by £l3O and totalisator investments were £I6OO up. Otherwise the revenue and expenditure might be taken as fairly nominal in comparison with the previous year.

.1 U.B! LEE APPRO ACHING. The club could be congratulated on the fact that the Easter trotting .meeting had been fairly successful. The gathering was w;ell patronised ;by outside openers and the class of horse engaged was of a high standard. Referring to the recommendation in the report that economy in expenditure should be effected, particularly in respect of a reduction of stakes, Mr McCarthy said It he suggestion would, have to be taken seriously into consideration, though he did not anticipate a reduction would take place at the forthcoming meeting as that gathering would hold special iuteres't in that it would be tlie twenty-fifth, or silver jubilee, in flic history of the club. Giving details of the actual stakes offered by the club, Mr McCarthy showed that such were at present 54 c /c in excess of the minimum required under the rules of trotting. The next meeting- of the club being the twentyfifth anniversary, the incoming committee would consider making special arrangements to celebrate the occasion.

SERVICES APPRECIATED. Mr McCarthy also referred to the decision of the New Zealand Trotting Conference to give a twelve months’ trial of a handicapping system automatically fixing the penalties for winning and placed performances. The system had already been on trial at the Metropolitan meeting and bad received favourable Press comment.

Appreciation of improvements ef- 1 fected to the 'training tracks during] the year by the. Egmont Racing Club was expressed bv the president. 'He voiced regret concerning the loss sustained try tin' club through the departure from the district of Mr T. J. Salmon, who had given valued services as honorary treasurer, as a member o'f tin* committee and a steward and formerly as clerk of scales. In conclusion he extended thanks to committeemen. stewards, all officials and the secretary (Mr E. P. Cox) and his assistants for services rendered, and to the Press. PROGR AM ME IMP ROVEM E NTS. The motion to adopt the report and balance sheet was seconded by Mr .T. R. Corrigan, who said the officials of the dull were to he congratulated on the manner in which the trotting meeting had been .conducted. “Unworn is one of the Dominion and that reflects to Ihe credit of the officials, ’ said Mr Corrigan. Be suggested that the two saddle races should be replaced' with harness events. That course had been adopted by the. Metropolitan Club. As another improvement to the programme, he advised easing the trotting race of 3.45 to 3.48 class and the 4.50 class to 4.50.

Mr Corrigan also recommended that no reduction should he made in stakes. He predicted that an all-round rise in totalisator returns would lie realised during the season. As a further means of helping the club and the sport generally, ho. advocated that each member present at the meeting should en:£t

deavour to envoi at least one other member. The committee would welcome .additions to membership, said the chairman in thanking - Mr Corrigan for his suggestions which he intimated would be given earnest consideration. The motion to adopt the report and balance sheet was adopted without further comment.

OFFICIAL'S APPOINTED. No election was required to fill the office bearer positions for the ensuing year, the nominations in each instance equalling the vacancies. The following were declared elected unopposed: — President, Mr B. McCarthy (re-elect, ed); vice-president, Mr E. A. Washer (re-elected); hon. treasurer, Mr W. B. Fen ron; committee, Messrs. C. Arden, M. Barraclough, W. J. Bradford, J. iS. Barrow, J. N. Crocker, B. O. Gibson, A. J. Hopcrofty 11. L. Kasper, J. Malone, .T. iS. T. .Short (re-elected), and J. M. Deogan; stewards, Messrs C. Arden, W. J. Bradford, .T. N. Crocker, J. M. Deegan, B. C. Gibson, A. ,T. Hopcroft, A. C. Johnstone, 11. L. Kasper, J‘. Malone, J'. S. T. Short, (re-elected), and J. ,S. Barrow. Mr H. A. Lennon was re-elected as auditor.