TAHUNA PARK TROTTING CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11400, 18 April 1899, Page 5

TAHUNA PARK TROTTING CLUB.

The animal meeting of the Taluma Park Trotting Club was held last night, at the Terminus Hotel, there being a fairly largo number of members present, and Mr S. S. Myers, president, being in the chair. The Chairman said members had had a copy of ;* s balance sheet, and they would therefore tako it as read. In moving its adoption, he mi"hl. say lhat they had had a fairly prosperous year. They would note from the balance'sheet that the receipts amounted to £2890 odd ; and they had actually expended £2832, which included about £100 spent m plant, isavimr. a credit balance of £62 11s. They' would also notice from tho balance sheet that the Autumn meeting gave the very good profit of £12+ 18s, while the May and Summer meetings resulted in a loss—the May meeting of £41 odd, and the Summer meeting of £68 odd. With part of the money they had in hand last year, the committee spent over £100 in plant, chiefly in buying a new tolalisatov, to provide more totalisator accommodation, which was necessary to meet the requirements. At the last conference of the delegatos of the Trotting Association, they had been very successful in getting their recommendations passed regarding improvements and alterations in the rules, and members would notice lhat the alterations had proved very satisfactory. One thing the committee would like, to see definitely decided at next conference was the vexed question of factThey did not know when appeals were lodged whether they could take them on evidence for and against, or whether they were decided on a question of fact. He thought appeals should bo dealt with on the last basis. Trotting in Dunedin had last season improved a great deal, and the reasons for this wore that more money was given in stakes and tho committee had improved tho programme each your. They had made the programmes a, iittlo more eucouraeins; for owners of horses.

Ho thought they would admit that the cominilteo had done their l>e»t to foster sport, though tlioy did not claim to have gone through llio year without making some mistakes. If they had done so, it was only after inaluro consideration, and in the interests of the sport they sought to foster.

Mr H. Gourley seconded the adoption of the balance sheet, and the motion was carried.

The following gentleman were elected officebearers for the ensuing year:—Mr S. S. Myers, .president; Air 11. Gourloy, vico-pre-Kident. Those gentlemen having returned thanks,, tho. committee wore elected, the baljol resulting in favour of Messrs C. Allen, .T. M'Donald, unil J. C. Short. Mr G. E. Brown was elected auditor.

Mr Brcmnor tutked what tho amount was that had been paid to the Recreation Company for rent for tho last 12 months.

Tho Chairman said that it would be seen from the balance ..sheet that the rent, handieapper, .'and general expenses amounted to £240 for lho4.jyr.ay meeting, to £248 for the Summer meeting, and to £289 for the Autumn meeting, and after deducting for the handicuppor, £300 was: loft for rent. Out of this £300 thoy had to'pay rent, agriculture, a earclaker, for""a horse- and dray, and for other tilings.

Mr ,T. Ritchie asked if all traihmg fees went to tho Trotting.Club or to the Recreation Company. These should go a long way towards paying rqnt.; There, were also football matches.. Did all this go to tho Recreation Company? .-

Tho Chairman said it went to the Recreation Company, not to tho Trotting Club. The largest.amount received in fees was £37 odd.

Mr Ritchie asked how the chairman made it out to be a, fairly successful season'! Ho reckoned tho club had gone back £100. The Chairman -sii-icl Mr Ritchie had the balance sheet in front of him. He must bear in- mind-the:money-they had spent. Peoplo did not speculate upon tho totalisator as they had dono in bygone "years. They wore £2300 short- of the amount put through the totalir sator in' the previous year, and this meant a loss of. £174. Then they had given largo stakes. Miv Ritchie asked what would become of the club next year if this went on? Tho Chairman said they would have to give smnljer stakes.if jpeople. did not patronise the sport, ■ '._ '■■ ■ £ \ Mr Heonan suggested tho propriety of trying to get a reduction in the rent. The Chairman. The committee might consider that. . . Mr Ritchie raid Mr Jeffs had asked him to bring up tho.nlatter 'of a Jotter he (Mr Jeffs) had sent to the tlub, to which he had received no reply. • The Chairman jsaid the committee had received tho lettcr-'arid various other correspondence, and consideration had been adjourned to next committee meeting, when it would bo dealt with. Mr Ritchie referred to long handicaps. Good horses had absolutely no chance at all, and until a different state of affairs was arrived at they would .not go ahead. When a man got a good horse that could do something, ho threw it out of work and got somo old screw in order that he might get tho limit. There were four horses training at Wingatui, but they would not trot here. They were going to Christchurch. Here they had got no chance at all with the long limit. He thought the limit should, be reduced. Twentythree seconds hail been given, and he asked what chance had the scratch horse,.in that case? The Chairman said the last limit they made 5.40. Now they had done better. They had brought it down ssec This meeting they had got it 5.35. They knew they would lose an entry or two, but they must do.it to encourage good horses. Ho thought Mr Ritchie should rather have congratulated them upon their effort". Referring to Christehurch trotting, Mr Ritchie, must remember that it was an .older and a wealthier institution. The' club had put two class raoes in their programmes, and that would meet the approval of owners of good horses. Mr Gourley said there was one thing the handieapper had a great deal of trouble with. The horses wont out for airing for the purpose of deceiving the handieapper. Let any man go. over the programme as the horses | camo, and he ventured to say -they would admit there could not have been better handicapping. Mr Dowse was one.of the best haiulieappers for trotting or flat racing. He had men to deal with without principle; men who .sought to win the money by fair means or foul. Ho would like to go over the, last, two programmes carried out at Tahuna r'ark, and he thought he could convince any unprejudiced mail that the handicapping was good. Mr Green .pointed out that two scratch horses had won, and he thought that was a very fair average. • ' . 4 . Mr Ritchie said it was heavy going, which made all the. difference. » The discussion ended here, and the meeting terminated. ,