NELSON JOCKEY CLUB

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 17 October 1941, Page 2

NELSON JOCKEY CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING HELD CENTENNIAL RACES IN FEBRUARY The annual meeting of the Nelson Jockey Club held on Wednesday night was presided over by the president. Mr V. Cox. The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr T. Newman; president, Mr V. Cox; vice-presidents. Messrs A. Thomson, J. Newman, F. Atkinson; committee and stewards, Messrs C. B. Hodgson, F. O. Hamilton, H. F. West, C. C. Thomson, E. B. Moore, F. J. Bowers, J. B. Carr, H. R. Russell, R. V. Snowden, R. A. Thomas; hon. treasurer, Mr H. R. Russell,; hon. vet. surgeon, Mr C. V. Gomez, S.F.V.C.: hon. clerk of scales. Mr G. Manson, assistant, Mr F. Atkinson; hon. auditor, Mr P. S. Boyes; hon. surgeons, Drs A. Campbell-Smith, D. C. Low, A. L. Lewis, G. B. Campbell and R. F. Stenhouse; judge, Mr U. Shannon; hon. timekeepers, Messrs P. H. Kitchingman, N. Kerr and C. H. Ruffell. The annual report, stated inter alia: The annual race meeting was held on the 3rd and sth May, following the West Coast circuit as usual. Unfortunately Waverley were also given our dates, despite our strong protest, and there is no doubt that we lost some horses which otherwise would have come to Nelson. Our fields, however, were the best for some time, and the meeting was one of the happiest and most successful we have experienced for some years. The totalisator increased from £14,997 to £17,509, and the gates showed a slight increase. The new office buildings erected by the A. : and P. Association were in use, but are really inadequate for the convenient administration of the meeting. After donating £3O to patriotic funds and providing for additional repairs and maintenance, and writing off £79 10s 9d for depreciation of buildings and plant, we show a profit for the year of £69 Is 9d. Unfortunately our normal date for 1942 falls on Saturday, 25th April, and being Anza: Day. it is of course impossible to race. This involves the breaking of the West Coast--1 Nelson-Blenheim circuit, and the only suitable alternative dates we can secure are the 14th and 16th February. In view of promises of support already received and of the fact that Ist February represents Nelson’s Centenary, the dates are hot altogether inappropriate, and your committee views the prospects for the coming meeting in a favourable light. A special effort is being made j to stage an attractive programme, and encouraging assistance has already been promised. So far as carrying on ! racing during war time is concerned, j there is no doubt that the Government ! will indicate quite clearly if and when | it considers there should be a curtailj ment. Meanwhile, as this club has I only one meeting a year and racing j contributes enormous sums of easily i collected taxation to the Government, j and employment for an astonishingly large number of people, the question is hardly one which concerns such a . club as ours at the moment. From our - meeting last year a nett amount of - about £I3OO was paid to the Govern--2 ment in taxation. :i Thanks was expressed to the honort ary officials for their work. The president said that there were l) prospects of obtaining good trophies to -d help make an extra good programme 1 for the Centennial meeting on 14th and - 16th February. s It was decided to support the Thames », Jockey Club in its efforts to secure re- - lief from taxation. f Congratulations are to be extended - to Sergeant Hulme. V.C. n The meeting concluded with a vote 1. oi thanks to the secretary and a vote t of thanks to and confidence in the president for his work and enthusiasm, d