Lake County Jockey Club.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2928, 25 July 1911, Page 5

Lake County Jockey Club.

RACING COMMISSIONERS' REPORT

DISCUSSED.

MUST THE RACES GO BACK TO FRANKTON ?

THE MINISTER'S OPINION TO BE

SOUGHT.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ANSWER EXPECTED.

A general meeting of members of the Lake County Jockey Club was held in Arrowtown ou Saturday evening, there being present Messrs G. I>. Eaird (vice-president and chairmm 1 ), R. M. Paterson, T. Connor, El McKibbin, J. Melville, W'. Gumming, H. Romans, P. Tobin, P. de la Perrelle, P. McCarthy, K. Craig, T. O'Neill, W. D. Warren and the secretary, Mr Geo Logan. The secretary of the Trotting Association wrote in regard to the ex planations of the club in connection with the second trot at hat meeting wherein Lauradale was awarded the stakes owing to Seafoam galloping.—Received. The secretary reported, roughly, on the fiuancial position of the club. He said that thero was £33 outstanding for subs., £ll in the bank and £l4 in hand or £SB in all. The club owed the Stamp Department the sum of £64 5s 6d so that, pro\ided all the money was paid in, there would be a deficit of £6 odd on the year's work ing. The Chairman said that the financial position of the club was not as satisfactory as he would like it to be. This was partly accountable to the fact that the revenue received from bookmakers was £63 short of the previous year's amout>t and owing to having to pay a larger totaliiator tax and efftct necessary improvements on the course. The assets would amount to about £123 and these always stood good. The Chairman said that the principal business of the meeting was to consider the Racing Commissioners' recommendations regarding L.C.J.C. The Commissioners had agreed to allow the clul) its two days races as usual, but they recommend that the meeting be held on the Frank ton racecourse. He took this as a command at the time the report was published and since then, from following up the newspaper reports on the protests of various clubs he was satisfied that the club would not be granted a totalisator license unless it raced at Frankton. There was no option in the matter. Now the club had to consider ways and means in view of its next meeting at Frankton. He thought the first step would be to approach the trustees of the Frankton racecourse to see what tliey can do in regard to effecting the necessary repairs to the buildings and making other improvements. Mi* P. McCarthy replied that the trustees of the Frankton course were prepared to spend £IOO in making a mile course and effecting necessary improvements to the buildings, etc. He hoped that, although the races were once more to be held at Frankton that the members of the club would pull together in the future. They must remember that it was the Lake County Jockey Club—not the Arrow or the Queenstown Club. If the Club did not do so they would lose their permit. They would notice by the papers that the Acting Prime Minister had stated that the Commissioners' recommendations were final and there could be no deviation from same. He said that Queenstown would fulfil the guarantee that was made eleven months ago regarding tha financial suppoit. The Chairman said that he was glad to hear the statements of Mr McCarthy. He felt confident that if the races had to go to Frankton the Arrow people would be good enough sports in the future to continue their patronage to the Club.

Mr McCarthy reminded the meeting that the club would have to pay no rent for the Frankton course whereas they were now paying something like £2O for the Arrow course. The speaker praised the Arrow people for comiug to the rescue when the club was in a precarious position financially some years ago.

The Chairman said that the lease of the Arrow course had to run three years and he thought that some arraugement should be come to whereby owners could continue to use it for training purposes.

Messrs Warren and Craig said that they also had an assurance from Messrs Monson and Reid, racecourse trustees, regarding the expenditure of £IOO on the Frankton course. The latter said that another trustee would have to be elected in the late Dr Douglas' place and Messrs Baird, Patcrson and Cotter had been sug gested to fill the vacancy.

Mr Cunnor asked whether it was a strict ruling that the races must be held at Frankton.

The Chairman replied in the affir mative.

Mr Connor Raid that only three of the Commissioners attended at Arrow and all they did was to lopk at the ground. Bethought that the Jockey Club should consider where they got their main support from and fix the ground accordingly Of cour.se if the Racing Commission had the power to say where the club had to race that settled the question. But he would like, for the take of several outside members, to have the assurance of the Minister on the matter. The Chairman said that the Commissioners had been invested with the power, whereupon Mr Connor stated thit he would continue to support the club, but he said that it was very doubtful if the farmers At the 4rrcw end would subscribe again. The chairman said he was perfectly certain that when the patrons of the club understood the position properly, and if they were true sports, they would continue to give their quota towards racing. He was sure also that

Qoeenßtown would contribute its fair share. If the club keeps up the stakes it will get good nominations.

Mr Connor said that he would lik« to see two good days' uport continual in the district and so thereby conserve the interests of the club.

Mr M'Carthy reminded the meet in? of the circumstances under which the i:lub shifted its meeting to the Arrow course and of the amount that was raised at Queenstown end of the district to assist the Club, viz, nearly £BO.

Mr Paterson thought it was compulsory for them to go back to Fmnkton. To go on racing at Arrow in the Club's present financial position, would simply throw them into further debt. Hh deprecated having to *pend a cer tain amount of improvements every year on another man's property. The Club would be absolved from any expense on this score if they raced at Frankton. At the latter place they would be able to build up a really nice course. The course could be railed and the buildings put in order. And in time there was no reason why the the meeting should not be as successful as in the days when the late Mr Dowse was handicapper. Mr Connor proposed that the Minister of Internal Affairs b« wiitten to and asked if the Club must race on the reserve at Frankton in preference to the leasehold near Arrowtown.

This was seconded by Mr Robins. Mr McCarthy said that he offered no objection to asking for the information but he reminded him of the Hon. Mr Carroll's pronouncement on the Commissioners'report. He 'asked Mr Connor whether, supposing the Club continued to race at Arrow course, it would be prepared to spend £SO or £6O in railing in the course. He thought not.

Mr Connor replied that he just wanted the people of the district to understand the position thoroughly. This would be in the interests of the Club. Mr Paterson moved, as an amendment, that the Minister be not written to. Seconded by Mr Craig. Several members spoke in support of the motion, at the same time feeling convinced that the races must go back to Frankton. Mr Paterson said that it was absurd to write to the Minister when they all seemed to know what answer would be received from him. The speakrr predicted failure for the club if it continued to carry on at the Arrow course. If the jealousy between the Arrowtown and Queenstown people could not be set aside then he would say let it go on and the club would be the sufferer.

Mr Romans held that every member of the Club should support same for for the sport's sake and sink local jealousies. If they would all work together there was uo reason why there should not be some very good racing at Frankton. They could not continue to race at Arrowtown. The club was going behind every year and would continue to go back in the circumstances. " It must be either sport or no racing." Mr Cumming said he would like to see every one pull together. He thought that the place of meeting had been shifted over their heads but it would be as well to find out for certain/

Mr Craig said that it was only waste of paper and ink to write to the Minister.

The propositions were then put to the meeting and the motion was carried and the amendment lost.

In view of its being decided that the races shall be held at Frankton it was resolved, on the motion of Mt'S-ms Paterson and M'Oarthy—That a committee consisting of Messrs H. M'Kibbin, P. de la Perrelle, 0. Robins, T. Connor, R. Paterson, G. D. Baird, W. Cumming, P. M'Oarthy, R. Craig, C D. Dagg and J. S. Collins confer with the trustees of the Frankton race course with a view to determining what improvements are necessary in order to successfully carry on the races, and that the result be reported to the an nual general meeting at the end of August. The meeting then closed with the usual vote of thanks to the chair.