FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19261, 27 August 1924, Page 4

FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB.

' ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club was hotel last night in tho club i‘oom.«. The president (Mr B. S. Irwin) occupied tho chair, and there waa an attendance of about 100 members. ANNEAL REPORT. 'The annual report slated (hat the committee was pleated to announce that, in the circumstance.-, the season’s operations had been fairly successful. After writing oil £1026 17s lid for depreciation, the year had been finished with a debit balance of £IOSO 12s 2d. Tho sum of £537 11s 4d had been expended in now buildings during the your, and this had gone to capital account. Tho overdraft hud increased from £484 Is 4d to £722 Os 10(1. The stakes, which amounted to £16.000, had been the same as la-st sea-on. New works in progress included gales, turnstiles, fencing, etc. The committee was determined to carry on a progressive policy, and hoped to provide further comforts tor the members and patrons of the ciuh. The. membership now stood at £59. an increase of 21. The committee had to record with deep regret tho death during the year of one of “ its oldest stewards, Air 11. .1. Gourloy. , Eight scrutineers were at once aj pointed to count the votes, which had been placed in the ballot box.

PRESIDENT’S REMARKS. In moving the adoption of mo annual report and balance sheet, the chairman said that tho past year had been a somewhat strenuous one for the club, hut there were difficulties which had faced tho committee which would not. recur. During the year one of their bast kiimin stewards (Mr Hugh Goiirley) had passec, away. They all regretted his death, and he would ask them to stand ns a tribute lo his memory. Continuing, tbe speaker said the toialisatox returns had not been as good in the past year as in some previous years, but he thought, the club had at last touched bottom in his respect. He thought, therefore, that, they could reasonably look forward to doing better than in the past year. Tie did not want to givo the impression that (he past year had been a disastrous one —it had been fairly good considering all things. He would just like to givo them the figures for the slakes and the totalizator for tho past few years. In the season 1919-1920 they paid in slakes £12,235. and their totalizator investments came to £186,99f ; 1920-21. stakes £15,875, totaiisator £229,378; 1921-22, slakes £14,895, totalizator £191,684 10s; 1922-22, stakes £16,600. totaiisator £193,455; and 1923-24, stakes £16,600, totaiisator £190,575., Iheir biggest totaiisator year they would soo was in 1920-21, and their business tor (no past year whs the lowest over Lhe period of five years. In (he year 1023-24 they had experienced certain difficulties at too winter meeting—the railway strike, bad weather, etc., ■militated against the success of that meeting. Tho committee of the club had gone on with a progressive policy and had endeavoured to increase the conveniences at the park and bring it up to date. Tboy had tried to provide for tbo comfort of theiv members and the sporting public and all their patrons. Some six years ago they would remember tneir big new stand had been completed at a cost of £BOOO, and in addition other improvements at the park had been carried out at a cost of £6750. So something, n,-o £15,000 had been spent at the park over the six years. That spoke very well for the club*, and he thought very few clues putting the same amount of money tinougn the totaiisator could say they bad spent that amount out of revenue.—(Hear, hear ”) There was still a good deal more to bo' done at the park. Tho spenkei referred to particular improvements winch hod been, carried out, and said lie thought, the new number board which had been erected was one of the most up to date iu tho Southern Hemisphere.—(Applause.) The committee had worked together well during the year. They had not spareu themselves, and had kept wide away to the requirements of tbo duo. The stewards welcome any ideas (hat might bo suggested by members. The policy of the committee was. of course, to gave as much in stakes as possible, with duo regard to having sufficient money in hand to cam on and improve their appointments at tho park. Trotting was a very popular sport, and was becoming oven more popular than the senior sport of racing. That was shown by tho huge crowds which attended trotting mootings. Tho speaker- referred to the annual report, and said that although they had finished the year with a debit balance of £IOSO 13s 2d thev had written off £1036 17s lid, so that they had really como out dear. They did not desire to put in inflated values for thoir properly at Forburv, and this was tho reason for the writing down. Their membership hart steadily increased, and he wished to remove any impression that the dub would no accept more new members. . sib'e verson who desired to join the duh would have no difficulty in securing membership.— (Applause.) , , Mr T T Ritchie seconded the motion. Air J.’ Carroll said .that if tho dub made belter provision for its outside patrons it would show better financial results. Ho thought outside patrons midit be given the old stand bad; again. IT© congratulated the committee on the good work it was Cl °Mr' .T. Duncan asked a question regarding the details of race 33 7d) and general expenses £260 6s Hd). The Chairman explained bow the expenditure bad been incurred, and said any further information could bo obtained Lorn the secretary. . , The motion for the adoption of H e report and balance sheet was tnon pat and tarried ’ GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr H. T. Trevona raised the question svliethor" it would not be wise to offer nurses for trotting and pacing horses much could reduce the existing track records at, Ecrburv. He thought these purses would bring tho highest class pacers and trotters to Dunedin. Mr Ritchie said that the committee had not overlooked this matter, and had in the past offered purses, 'they had not secured the horses, however. Mr Trevona then moved— That purses for trotters and pacers be given for horses breaking the best existing records on the Forbury track, the distance to bo two 011 The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Air E. L. Barsdell suggested that tho class for the big two-mile races might bo tightened from 4.33 to 4.32._ . The meeting was again disinclined to take ttnv action, , , Mr 11. Hcllyor raised the question ot introducing the electric totalizator. 'Hie Chairman said the matter had been considered by the committee. He himself favoured the’electric totaiisator, and agreed it would have to come. It _wcu (1, however, cost some thousands to install such u totaiisator. and the club had to consider (he question of finance. The Chairman explained, in answer to a question, that it was now about seven years since members of the club waited on the City Council and stated they were prepared to give the council a guarantee against Joss if a tram linn were laid to tbe park. That Pond had been signed and had been pigeonholed at the Town Hall for some years. If seemed strange (hat the corporation had not gone on with a line over which they could’ not possibly lose. The position today was that, the Opoho line was now nearly completed. 'Che tramways department'would then proceed with the construction ot a lino to Logan Park, and the next work would he a line to serve Forbury Park. They could only hope for (ho best. OFFICE-BEARERS. Air Irwin was re-elected president without opposition, amidst applause. After the general business had concluded the scrutineers returned to (he room with the results of the ballot. Mr J. M. Samson (194 votes) was declared to be elected vice-president. The other candidate was Mr J. Goldsmid (165 votes). Five committee-men were required, and (here, were 11 candidates for the vacancies. Tho voting resulted; —Thomas Fogg 252, Janie? Mitchell 217, G. J. Barton 292. J. Richardson 197, W. J. I, Goughian 182elected; A. G. Nedl 145. John Mitchell (It n-nside) 136. R. Teller 135, A. W. Brown 13!), 11. Ilalligan 101, and R. Movall 79. Mr M. Dawson asked if there would mu he a vacancy r,n the committee through Mr Samson being ole, led vie-,-president. Would the next candidate in order of voting he elected to the committee? The Chairman said the cornmiilre had power lo 91! the vacancy itself, or it could have an election. Mr C. Balt brought up Ihe question of making a charge for ladies] tickets. Tho proposal, however, met with no favour from the meeting. The meeting was concluded hy Mr A. A. Paapo moving a hearty vote of thanks to tho executive, the, motion beijig curried by acc-lam ation.