FEILDING JOCKEY CLUB.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 206, 30 July 1938, Page 4

FEILDING JOCKEY CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. PUBLICATION OF DIVIDENDS. The 59th annual meeting of the Feilding Jockey Club was held last evening, Mr It. J. Harper presiding over a good attendance of members. The chairman referred to the passing ! of Mr Hector Booth, who had been a member almost since the club’s incep- • tion, and said his sound judgment and . opinions regarding the management of the club were appreciated and high- ■ ly respected. Mr Harper also referred to the : passing of Mr E. Goodbehere and stated that last year Mr Goodbehere had been l elected vice-president. In May of this year he had attended a meeting of the district committee and, o'n returning home, illness overtook him and he failed to recover. Mr Goodbehere had taken a keen interest in the club and in racing matters in general, his knowledge being availed of freely. He had been a foundation member of the club and its secretary since 1891 until 1927. To him the club owed much credit for the sound position it was in to-day. A motion of sympathy with the relatives was carried in silence. Moving the adoption of the report (already published), Mr Harper referred to the last Easter meeting, at which 1 he totalisator returns had shown a decrease due to bad weather. He ventured the opinion that, had fine j weather been experienced, a record meeting would have resulted. The amount offered in the stakes was £llOO greater, yet the entries and acceptances had been £ll9 17s lower compared with the previous year. The committee was concerned about the reduction and could only account for the decrease by the number of meetings held during the Easter holiday period. It appeared that the position in regard to the stakes would have to be considered. After allowing for depreciation (£900) on buildings, etc., the club had made a net loss of £313 11s 6d on the year. Higher wages and salaries had been a contributing factor. Members, however, had no cause for complaint when all things were considered. The club was in a very financial position | Improvements to the property had involved heavy expenditure'. The new seven furlong starting point was progressing, and it was hoped to have it completed bv November. Mr P. G. Miles congratulated the cli-H on its sound position. The report and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion.

OFFICERS ELECTED. The election of officers resulted: — President, Mr R. J. Harper; vicepresident, Mr \V. G. Fry; hon. treasurer, Mr W. J. Shannon: committee, Messrs E. FI. Brewer, J. B. Bradley, H. S Cornfoot, E. Fair, L. Gorton, J. Graham, L. T. McLean, T. O'Neill, A. H. Sutton, N. J. Short, E. A. Twigg, W. E. Thomas; liandicapper, Mr W. P. Russell; judge, Mr D. J. Guiney: starter, Mr W. C. Price; clerk of scales, Mr A. H. Maguire; hon. timekeeper. Mr A. C. McCorkindale; surgeon, Dr. F. Cameron ; veterinary surgeon, Mr R. H. Meade. The various officers returned thanks for their election. GENERAL.

Mr E. Fair proposed that the Government be written to advocating that amending legislation be introduced permitting the telegraphing of bets to the course, the double totalisator, and the publication of dividends. Mr J. Graham agreed with the mover’s suggestions and stated that the

position was base hypocrisy in that the bookmakers were carrying on a flourish business which, in one sense was illegal, while in another it was legal. The Commissioner of Taxes received the bookmakers’ returns for income tax. One department of law was out to catch the bookmaker, while another department was out to get all it could from him, and hoped that the bookmaker would not be caught. Mr T. O’Neill supported the resolution but doubted whether the Government would do anything in the matter. The motion was carried.

The question of the issue of complimentary tickets was debated and various speakers related their experiences and mentioned the abuses to which the tickets so issued were subjected. Complimentary tickets were sold and obtained under false pretences in some, instances, it was stated. A motion by Mr T. O’Neill that the matter be taken up by the Racing Conference was carried. The president expressed his thanks to the officers, office staff, groundkeeper, and all who -had co-operated with him during the year.