A PROFITABLE YEAR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 204, 29 July 1939, Page 7

A PROFITABLE YEAR

FEILDING JOCKEY CLUB. SIXTIETH ANNUAL MEETING. The COth annual meeting of the Feilding Jockey Club was held last evening, Mr K. J. Harper presiding over an excellent attendance. Appropriate reference was made to the passing of Messrs D. H. Kilgour, C. E. Johnston, J. li. l’errett and J. 15. Pascal, members of the club, and a motion of sympathy with the relatives was passed. Mr Harper paid a tribute to the enthusiasm and generous support the deceased gentlemen had given the club. All were old members and had held various offices. The late Mr Perrett had possessed a sound knowledge of racing affairs, while Mr Johnston had presented the Jubilee Cup, with replicas valued at well over £IOO. The late Mr Pascal had been a member since 1894.

Referring to the balance-sheet, Mr Harper said all would agree that the elnh had enjoyed a very successful year, the profit amounting to £1157 8s -Id. while liberal depreciation had been allowed for. The expenditure had been heavy ; wages and stakes had increased and the expenses had risen heavily. The indebtedness to the bank amounted to £7lO and the position was very satisfactory and sound. Considering that the club had only four clays’ racing, the taxation, amounting to £SB49 2s 7cl, was heavy. As far as totalisator turnover was concerned. Feilding ranked twelith on the list for New Zealand. In stakes given the club ranked eleventh on the list. The totalisator, gates and lawn receipts had increased substantially. Touching on the new seven furlong course, and the new residing, the speaker said the cost was £750, while tlic totalisator house and main stands had been renovated in addition to the erection of new fences and loose boxes.

On the motion of Mr AY. E. Thomas, the report and balance-sheet were adopted. Air T. Fitzgerald, in paying a tribute to the financial position of the club, said that in 1930 the overdraft was £4OOO, and-in four years the position had been wonderfully improved, 'flic expenditure had been kept down to a minimum, “and.” he added, “the Government would do well to take a leaf out of the club’s books.” Referring to the issue of complimentary tickets, Mr Fitzgerald felt that members should be given a limited number for distribution to bona fide race people in outside districts. He deplored the fact that non-members were seen on the members’ stand. Afore rigid control of tlie privilege was needed. Air Philip Allies suggested that the balance-sheet should show the previous year's sheet for purposes of comparison. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. In accordance with the nominations received, the following officers were |elected unopposed:—President, ATr 1,. IT. McLean; vice-president. Air N. J. Short ; hou. treasurer, Air AY. J. Shannon. An election was held lor the four vacancies on the committee, and the following were re-elected : Alessrs If. S. Cornfoot, AA'. G. Fry, J. Graham and L .Gorton. The other candidates. Alessrs A. J. Lugg and R. Richardson, congratulated the successful candidates and thanked members for the support, given them. In returning thanks for his election as president, Mr AlcLean said he had much pleasure in accepting office, and appreciated the confidence reposed in him. He was taking over the position from a gentleman under whose jurisdiction the club had prospered. Ah- Short vice-president and the reelected committeemen returned thanks. All paid tribute to Air Harper's work as president, and to his energetic efforts.

Air Graham said that when lie first became a member the bank overdraft had boon £9000; to-dav it was £7OO- - He would not like to see the Hub embark on a building programme which would be involving it- in an expenditure of £9OOO. which would throw the Hub back to its position of 15 years ago. He felt that the members could he given tlie aeeommodot'ou needed for an expenditure of £ISOO to £2OOO. Racing, he considered. was at its peak and the club should conserve its resources for a time which might onme when the money ir>i"hf he needed to keep raring in Foild'tic going. He would strive to maintain the Hub's strong financial position, and thanked members for his re-election to the committee.

STAND ACCOMMODATION

Afr W. G. Booth said he was of the opinion that tlie incoming committee hould provide further stand accommodation. Conditions had to be made attractive for the public. He moved that the question be referred to the new committee for consideration.

Air T. O’Neill supported the motion, stating that there was congestion on the members’ stand. The difficulty in regard to the main stand appeared to be that it was too near the track. Something was needed to remove the congestion without great expense. Air Harper said tlie outgoing committee had gone into the matter very fully. The dissatisfaction resulted through, non-members being on the stewards’ stand. Members wore at fault to some extent; they went to the secretary and asked for tickets. Plans for alterations and for the erection of a members’ stand had been before the committee and in all the cost- involved over £BOOO. The overdraft limit was £9OOO, and the hank had intimated that, it could not promise an extension of that amount. Tlie incoming committee would go into the question ,l>iit in tlie meantime he asked the members to confine their applications for tickets within reason, and lie felt the congestion problem would he somewhat relieved. Air W. E. Thomas said he thought the time was not opportune for an expenditure of £BOOO to £IO,OOO. Air Graham said a scheme for the improvement of the facilities had been advanced by Air R. Hood, architect, involving tlie erection of a new members’ stand and extra steps, and a ramp lo enable all -patrons about the niuin stand to see the races. The cost was estimated at £7BOO. If the question was deferred until later the Hub might get the work done for £looo' or £SOOO. As a trustee of tlio club he was not prepared to spend the amount mentioned recently (£8700). He was agreeable to extensions being made to the present stewards’ stand and appreciated the need for additional accommodation, but lie did not wish to see a programme embarked upon which would perhaps embarrass the club in loan years. Air J. Al. Old said lie line! moved a similar resolution last year at the annual meeting, and lie was prepared to leave the matter in the hands ol the new committee. Air E. H. Brower said the committee would give the matter full consideration. He mentioned that other clubs which were not in such a good position financially as Feilding were spending ltirgo fimoitnts on improvements. . , Air Booth, replying to the remarks made l>y tlie various speakers, said aIJ j

ho wanted was that tho new committee give consideration to tlie matter of providing more accommodation, and even if the major scheme could not he completed the preliminary steps should be taken. All- L. F. Pike recommended, that tho committee go into the question of incroasiiig its stakes.

Air W. A. Sandilarnls said the club did not include a weight-for-age event in its programme, and he recommended that the committee go into the suggestion of providing for that class. He also suggested the club should introduce the win and place system which in Auckland had proved successful. He further suggested that the back straight be widened. The New Zealand Racing Conference had forced various clubs to improve their training tracks. All- Harper said the only meeting at which the club was likely to be short of horses would lie at Easter, when there were nine other fixtures. There was no shortage at the November meeting. Regarding the win and place system, Afr Harper said that while it was successful in larger centres lie did not think it would be satisfactory at Fcildiug.

Eulogistic reference was made regarding Air E. G. Goodbehero’s work as secretary, Afr Harper stating that the secretary paid untiring attention to the duties designated to him. A vote of thanks to Afr Goodbehere and the staff was carried by acclamation. Mr Goodbehere suitably replied and stated that the time would come when the members would have a stand they could call their own.

Regarding the win and place system, Air Goodbehere said the cost of introducing it would bo heavy. There were 32 issuers and each would cost £2OO to convert. There were prospects ol a cheaper method of converting the present machinery being made available, and it was possible that the Hub could do something in the matter in the future.