TAHUNGA PARK TROTTING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 39

TAHU NGA PARK TROTTING CLUB.

The annual meeting of the Tahuna Parlc Trotting Club was held ou Monday, a,' the Terminus Hotel, there being a fairly large number of members present, and Mr S. S. 'Myers, president, being in tho chair. The Chairman said members had had a copy of the balance sheet, and they would therefore take it as road. In moving its adoption, ho might say that they had had a fairly prosperous year. - They would note from the balanco sheet that the receipts amountod to £2890 odd ; and they had actually expended £2832, which included about £100 spent in plant, leaving a credit balance of £62 11». They would also notice from the balanco sheet that the Autumn rnoeting gave the very good profit of £124- l&s, while- the May and Summer meetings resulted in a loss — the May meeting of £4-1 odd, and Summer meeting' of £63 odd. With part of the money they had in hand last y«ar, the committee spent over £100 in plant, chiefly in buying a new lotaliuator, to provide more totalizator accommodation, which was necessary lo meet the requirements. At tho last conference of the" delegates of the Trotting Association, thoy had been very successful in getting.lheir recommendations passed regarding improvements and altenitionß in the rules, and members would notice that the alterations had proved very witisfactory. One- thing the committee would like to nee definitely decided at nexfc conference was the vexed question of fact. They did not knbw when appoals were lodged whether they could take them on evidenca for and against, or whether they were decided on a question of fact. He thought appeal* phould be dealt with on the last basis. Trotting in Dunedin had last season improved a great deal, und the reasons for this were that more money was given in stakes and the committee had improved the programme each year. They had made the programmes a little moro encouraging for owners of horses. Ho thought they would admit that the committee had done their beat tc foster sport, though they did not claim to A have gone through the year without making some mistakes. If they had done so, it was only after mature consideration, and in the interests of the sport they nought to foster. Mr H. Gourley seconded the adoption of the balance sheet, and Hie motion was carried. The following gpiille*mf>n woro denied officebearers for Hie en^iin^ yrar-— Mr •"->• W. Myers, pro«id«M.t ; Mr Ji. (Jourli-y. \itr-pre-bicient. Tlio-t K<'" tl( " lt ' n I'jviriK returned tLauks. the commit teo were elected, tac

ballot resulting in favour of Messrs C. Allen, J. M'Donald, and J. 0. Short. Mr G. E. Brown was elected auditor.

Mr Bremner asked what the amount was that had been paid to the Recreation Company for rent for the last 12 month's. The Chairman said that it would be seen from the balance sheet that the rent, handicapper, and general expenses amounted to £240 far the May meeting, to £248 for the "Summer meeting, and to £289 for the Autumn meeting, and after deducting for the handicapper, £300 was left for rent. Out of this £300 they had to pay rent, agriculture, a caretaker, for- a horse and dray, and for other things. Mr T. Ritchie asked if all training fees •went to the Trotting Clv?b or to the Recreation Company. These should go a long way towards paying rent. There were also football matches." Did all this go to the Recreation Company?

The Chairman said it went to the Recreation Company,. not to the 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? He reckoned the club had gone back £100. The Chairman said Mr Ritchie had the balance sheet in front of him. He must bear in mind the money they had spent. , People did not speculate upon jthe totalisator as they jbad done in' bygone years. . They were J62300 short of the amoxmt put through the totalisator in the previous year, and this meant a loss- of £174. . Then they had given large stakes.

Mr Ritchie asked what would become of the club next year if this went on? - - . The Chairman said they would have to give smaller stakes if people did nqt patronise the eport.

Mr Heenan suggested the propriety of trying to "get a reduction in the rent. The Chairman : The committee might coneider that.

Mr Ritchie said Mr Jeffs had asked him to bring up the matter of a letter he (Mr Jeffs) had sent to the club, to which he had received no reply. The Chairman said the committee had received the letter and various other correspondence, and consideration had been adjourned to next committee meeting, when it would be ■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 jnan got a goocl horse that could do something, he threw it out of work and got some old screw in order that he might get the Jimit. There were four horses training at iWingatui, but they would not trot here. They were going to Chris tchurch. Here they had got 'no chance at all with the long limit. He 'thought the limit should be reduced. Twentyifchree seconds had been given, and he asked -what chance had the Ecratch horse in that case? [ , The Chairman said the last limit they made SAO.' Now they had done better. They had {brought it down ssec. This meeting they had ?gdt it 5.35. They knew they would lose an pntry or two, _but they must^do it to encourage good horses. He thought' Mr Ritchie phould rather have congratulated them upon their effort. Referring to Christchurch trotting, Mr Ritchie must remember that it was older and a wealthier -institution. Tiie club had put two class races in their programmes, and that would meet the approval of owners of good horses

Mr Gourley said there was one thing the Tiandicapper had a great deal of trouble with. ,The horses went out for airing for tlie purpose of deceiving the handicapper. Let any man go over the programme aB the horses -came, and he ventured to say they "■ would admit there could not have been better handicapping. Mr Dowse was one of the best liandicappera for trotting or flat racing. "He Jiad men to deal with without principle ; men ( who sought to win the money by fair meang or foul. He would like to go over the last two programmes carried out at Tahuna jfark, and he thought he could convince any unprejudiced man that the handicapping was good. Mr- Green pointed out that two scratch Worses had won, and he thought that was a very fair average. Mr Ritchie said it was heavy going, which made all the difference.

The discussion ended here, and the meeting terminated.