DUNEDIN JOCREY CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2782, 10 July 1907, Page 56

DUNEDIN JOCREY CLUB.

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club was held on Monday evening. The president, Hon. G. M'ljean, M.I».C, occupied the chair, and a^ number of members were present. — Annual Report. — " The committee feels satisfied thai mem-, bsrs will be gratified to see the continued prosperity of the club, having wound up the year with a balance in tihe hands of our bankers of £580 17s Bd, after providing for an increase of stakes over the previous year of £670, and spending in improvements £868 14s Bd. new buildings ,£513 17s 6d, and painting £270 19s. The new outer stand erected since our la«t annual meeting has given great comfort and satisfaction to our patrons of th«t or closure. In accordance witih the rules, the following have been proposed for election: — President, Hon. George M'liea-n; vice-presi-dent, Mt James Hazlett; committee^ — Messrs W. Charters, R. Ewing, P. Miller, S. Myers, A. S. Orbell, and James Thomson; and as there are not more than the required number these gentlemen will be elected in due course." The financial abstract showed a' balance brought forward of £409 15s 3d. and the receipts for the spring meeting to be £1806 2s Bd, bummer meeting £2103 7s 3d, autumn meeting £4072 9s, winter meeting £2437 11s lid, sundries £649 16s; total, £11,479 2s Id. The total expenditure figured at £10,898 4s sd, leaving a credit balance at the bank at £580 17s Bd. In moving the adoption of the balance sheet and report the Chairman said it was a pleasant duty to deal with an annual report that showed such good results as the one before him. They would all be satisfied with the progress made, and with the substantial balance credit, after providing for an increase of stakes over the previous year of £570, spending £368 14s 8d on improvements, and £513 17s 6d on new buildings. The sum of £270 19s had been spent on painting, which was not a. usual item in annual expenditure. A heavy ditch had been dug round the course for drainage purposes, a good deal of planting had been done, and the whole ground had been greatly improved. An outer stand h«d been built, and the wisdom of erecting it had been proiven by the fact that it had been well occupied. An up-to-date number board and a new judge's box had been erected, and a deal of general work had been done. The grounds and buildings were, he believed, satisfactory to patrons, as were also the course and training track. This year it was proposed to increase the stokes by £1000, and he thought such a step would be justified. As long as the weather was propitious there would be no risk, and the increased stakes would draw a larger number of horses. He wished he could instil into the mdnds of the people of Dunedin that the climate at the racecourse was different from that in the city. He had noticed on more than one occasion that when the rain poured in Dunedin the racecourse had been bathed in sunshine. The Chairman went on to say that people were petitioning against the use of the totalisator, and it seemed that many of them were not too particular as to their methods. Supposing the totalisator were abolished, within a year the very people who clamoured for its abolition would be the first to agitate to get it back. Adelaide was a case in point. The totalisator had been done away with, but the public got it back at the next election, and, haying had their lesson, never wanted to get rid of it again. Anti-totalisator people should be brought to view the matter in a proper light. There w«s also a good deal of talk about roguery on the racecourse ; but there was not a fiftieth part oi the roguery existing that people imagined. He congratulated the club on its success. In seconding the adoption of the report and balance sheet Mr J. Hazlett said that with the totalisator in existence there were not nearly the number of young fellows entrapped by unscrupulous persons, or prosecuted subsequently for swindling. They put their 10s on the totalisator, and if they lost there was an end of it. The Chairman: They'll never steal money to put on the totalisator. Continuing, Mr Hazlett stated that a number of school children were invited to visit the A. and P. Society's winter show gratis. A number of ladies had lists and tables at the doors, and persuaded the children passing in to sign the petition against the totalisator. Many of the children had not the faintest idea what they were signing. Great progress was being made with the double line, which would greatly benefit the racecourse. Children were always allowed to use the racecourse as a play or picnic ground, and when the double line was completed! thus far niany more would doubtless go out there. The report and balance sheet were adopted. The following officers were declared xeelected: — President, Hon. G. M'Lean ; vicepresident, Mr J. Hazlett; committee — Messrs W. Charters, R. Ewing, P. Miller, S. Myers, jA. S. OrbeU, and J. Thomson. Mr Geo. W. Mac Lean wa& re-elected auditor. | Mr G. B. Bullock, in moving a vote of thanks to the chair, said they were all glad to see the Horn. Geo. M'Lean presiding over them again. He congratulated him on his splendid recovery, and assured him that he was the head and shoulders of the club. | The Chair taaftt ifi thanking them fat &*

i sentiments expressed, said that a man might j -make up his mind to die, and do so. On I the other hand, he might make up his mind not to die, and live. He had still plenty of pluck left, and would do all he could to help along the Dunedin Jockey Club.