OTAGO HUNT CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27043, 30 March 1949, Page 7

OTAGO HUNT CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS MR IRWIN PRESIDENT The annual meeting of members of the Otago Hunt Club was held last night and Mr B. S. Irwin presided over a large attendance. Moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, the president said it was the thirty-sixth occasion on which he had addressed members as their president. Since the club was granted a totalisator permit it had continued to make steady progress. The past season had been a most successful one—and the club, in keeping with the spirit of Centennial Year, had increased the stakes for its annual race meeting, which was an outstanding success from a sporting point of view. He impressed on the younger members the fact that the primary purpose of hunt clubs was to teach young people the art of riding and inculcate love of a horse. The master of a hunt club occupied a dignified position and members could make it a very happy one by looking up to him and obeying him in the field. During the season the club had purchased a property at Seaview and in future it would be the club's headquarters. Working bees were being carried out on the property. Tire club's membership had increased by 50 during the season. He thanked the property owners who had permitted the club to hold runs on their properties. Referring to off-course betting, Mr Irwin said that some people were under the impression that it would be in operation within a month or two but that was not possible as nothing could be done until it was known what powers were to be given to the Racing and Trotting Con fercnces. Morning Hunts Successful Mr J. E. Brunton seconded the motion. He said the morning hunts had proved successful and he paid a tribute to Mr S. McKay for the condition in which the hounds were turned out. Hunt clubs with totalisator permits had voluntarily agreed to nay into a pool sums based on their respective totalisator returns, such pool to be used in assisting hunt clubs which did not have permits. The president: A form of social security. Messrs W. Muirhead and A. Dickson also spoke to the motion, which was carried. Question of Dress Miss P. M. Sime brought up the question of dress at the hunts, which she said was verv lax. and she also considered that on occasions “ football was considered before the hunt," So far as the handicapping of events was concerned, those who did the handicapping should not have horses in the events for which they act. Mrs P. C. Dodds suggested that the committee should consider the question of holding hunters’ trials on the lines of .those held in England. Mr A. Coutts, president of the Palmerston Hunt Club, and .Mr A. Aitcheson, a member of the- same club, expressed appreciation of the Otago Club’s action in holding hunts in the Palmerston district. Members would receive a warm welcome whenever they visited the district. Election of Office-bearers Messrs Irwin and Brunton. president and vice-president respectively, were reelected unopposed. There were five nominations for four vacancies on the committee and the following were elected:—Messrs A. Dickson, W. Hastie, .1 N. Murdoch and S. R. Robb. Messrs W. E. C. Reid and Co. were re-elected as auditors. A comprehensive vote of thanks concluded the meeting.