WHANGAREI RACING CLUB

Northern Advocate, 9 July 1925, Page 4

WHANGAREI RACING CLUB

SPLENDID RALLY OF MEMBERS. ANNUAL MEETING PACKED. There has probably never been a more largely attended gathering of members of any sports body in Whangarei at an annual meeting than that of the Whangarei Racing Club (incorporated) last evening. At the annual meeting last year the attendance numbered 42, and last night the new Friendly Societies' Hall in Alexandra Street, off Rust Lane, was engaged by the executive. Before the time fixed for the opening of the meeting the 154 chairs were all occupied and there were others who could not find even standing room in . the building.', \ ' The executive promptly arranged for the engageihent of the Britannia Theatre, to which building an attendance of approximately 230 adjourned. Prior to opening the meeting the president, Mr R. G. Hosking, secured by vote unanimous approval of the change effected. COMMITEE REPORT. The report of the committee for the year ending May 31, 1925, had been circulated. It dealt with the following matters: —■

t New Racecourse. —The committee had j given the matter of a new racecourse : considerable attention during the year and besides the harbour reclamation area they had inspected two other properties that were on offer. Owing to, the rapid growth of the club and its increasing popularity with patrons of racing the committee was of opinion that the club would either have to increase the accommodation at Kensington Park or purchase a property of its own. The ptesent lease of Kensington Park, which expires in 1933, did not warrant spending large sums there and the matter of a new course or a satis- ; factory leasd of the park had to be (looked on as one of the greatest ur- | gency. , „ _ Committeie. —During the vear Mr E. | Swann resigned from the committee on j account of leaving the town, and Mr iL.'W. Nelson was appointed in his place. Later on Mr GL King resigned, but as Mr King would retife under the rules of the club at the end of the year his place was not filled. New Rules.—The rules of the cltib were altered during the tw- "W making the fiscal year end on May 31 instead of March 31, and altering the date of the annual meeting to July. A notice of motion to increase the member's subscription to £2 2s was placed before members in March last, but the proposal was not carried. Course Improvement?. —The training tracks, whieh were provided kept in order by the club, were much appreciated and largely used by trainers and owners. The totalisator house had been enlarged and should meo + p • i requirements for the next few years. .The question of conveniences at the park was under consideration and the committee hope 1 that this ■ matter would soon be satisfactorily settled.

Extra Permit.—The promised! racing legislation was gassed, last, ,'yeata .and , the club was granted one extra day.The "Committee had not of the fact that the Racing Commission recommended the club for extra days and strong efforts had been made and were still being made to have the Commission's recommendations carried out. Cups.—During the year cups were donated by the New Zealand Breweries, Limited, Mr C. G. Macindoe,' and Mr H. J. Bray, and the club's thanks was due to these donors for their unsolicited trophies. Mr H. J. Bray was giving a cup again foT the local raceat th 6 ahtumir meeting. to the club having tw6" race meetings this year comparison with the previous year's figure? .could" not be made*. For the spring Meeting the club gave £2500 in stakes as against £2300 in 1923, and for the one day May meeting the' stakes were £1300. Reference to the balance sheet would show the splendid financial position of the club as it had assets totalling £4693 12s 6d, and no liabilities. Special Train.—For the first tim 6 in the history of the club a special race train from Auckland, returning the same day, was guaranteed by the club and the committee had pleasure in reporting that the club incurred no liability whatsoever in connection with the train.

Trotting Club. —Members would have noted tliat the Northland Trotting Club had obtained a well deserved permit. Satisfactory arrangements as to. the course had been made between the clubs, and the Northland Trotting Cliib was to be congratulated on the excellent inaugural totalisator meeting held in May last. Committee. —Under the rules Mr R. G-. Hosking (presidents, Mr M. Mclnnes (vice-president v - Messrs F. Coburn, T. Linnell, L. W. Nelson and K. G. M. Kelly retired, but were eligible for reelection. Mr M. G. King's vacancy was also'to be filled. Messrs L. W. Nelsoii, T. A: Williams and O, F. Stout (members' stewards) retired, but were eligible for reflection. Press.—The club's thanka was due to the Press for the space given to racing generally ,and particularly to the local paper for the publicity given to the club's affairs. ' ' . FINANCE. The statement of recoipts and expenditure for the year showed that it began with a credit balance of £3503 19s 8d and ended with one of £4552 17s Bd, tho turnover being £14,08.1 17s 4d. The item? of revenue were: — Totalisator £7441 7s, gates £1430 Is

6d, nominations and acceptances £781, members' subscriptions £350 14s, privileges £439 Ga 9d„ interest on investments £61 ss, rent of stables £74 3s sd, and fines £2, making a total of £10,(579 17a Bd. Expenditure during the year comprised: — Stakes £3800, Government taxes £4024 7s 4d, salaries £225, wages £274 15s, advertising, printing and stationery £234 5s 6d, maintenance and repairs £168 0s 7d, catering and refreshments £129 5s 4d, music £45, levies £63 13s 6d, insurances £23 2s 7d, donations £58

Bs, interest on overdraft £17 10s 6d r rent and rates £45 15s Bd, general expenses £181 8s lOd, and depreciation was set down at £99 lls ; leaving a profit on the year's operations of £1139 12s lOd. Assets totalled £4693 2s 6d and there were no liabilities. The president moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet, and stated that if members read it carefully through they would find that the position shown was excellent and that, the balance sheet clearly showed that the club was on the up-grade. Reference was made to how well the club and the hospitality of its members was spokien of in racing circles in other parts 'df the Dominion. > Mr T. A. Williams referred to the item of £234 5s 6'd for advertising-, printing and stationery, and compared it'with £101 on the previous balance sheet. " The secretary explained that lost May the club had sold its own race' books for £145, and that reduced the amor.nt to £90 as against £101. He had also purchased a new cash book and a considerable quartitv of stationery, which was on hand, while previously there had been two days' racing only against three during the past year.

There was a fsirly long discussion upon the new racecourse proposal (which will appear elsewhere) and then Mr. F. G. Young, of Hikurangi, referred to the privilege rights in regard to the publican's booth at the meeting. It was leased, he said, to a man who was not resident in the district, becausp he was the only tenderer. Mr Young suggested, however, that the committee should make it a condition that drinks should not be sold at more than a reasonable price. The president suggested that that might be taken 'as a recommendation to the committee, but Mr Young replied jokingly that he was not speaking much on account of the committee, as he understood that body .was fairly well provided for. He said that he referred to exploitation of the public, and suggested that, if it could not be. made a condition of tendering, the committee could give preference to those prepared to sell liquor at a ?eaa; onable price. " The report and balance sheet was tlien adopted unanimously. MASSEY MEMORIAL. At a later stage of the meeting, while "ballot papers were being counted, the president mentioned the proposal that sportsmen should contribute to the sportsmen's ; memorial fund, which he explained' would be applied towards the national memorial fund to erect a momiment to the late Prime Minister. Circulars had been issued suggesting to members that they should 2/6 each towards the fund when paying their subscriptions. The proposal) which emanated from the Racing Conference, was that money subscribed by members of the Whangarei Club should be forwarded to Auckland, and it would' then go on to be added to the fund for 1 a national memorial to the great statesman. He trusted that the donations, would be to the subscriptions, hoped would be paid in early.

Mr A. Ci MeCfirdle said hie Relieved 1 that tho proposed method of donating} to the sportsman's fund was- wrong. If • every football, rowing and ; other club were to -have similar funds' and a man belonged to a number of them it would not be fair that he should contribute to all. the speaker thought that every man should be left to give in his own way towards the National Memorial Fund, which he considered was a splendid idea. ■ The president intimated that it was optional for members to contribute in the manner mentioned. He referred to Mrs Massey's pride in the'interest the late Prime Minister had always taken in sport, and he trusted that those who wished to do so woilld pay in to the sportsmen's fund. . THANKS. ; Mr A. F. Thomson moved a hearty vote of thanks to the outgoing committee and,it was carried by acclamation. . . Thanks was also extended to the scrutineers and to the Press, the meeting terminating after a session of 1 three and a half hours.