MATAMATA RACING CLUB.

Putaruru Press, Volume XI, Issue 268, 7 September 1933, Page 8

MATAMATA RACING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. Hon. Secretary Eulogised. There was a very good attendance at the annual meeting of the Matamata Racing Club which was held on Wednesday. Mr. J. W. Anderson presided. Comment on Finance. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman said that it was most satisfactory. Expenses had been cut down to a minimum, the only increases being cost of some officials and refreshments. The club had been one of the first to the win and place machine, and this had drawn many officials from other clubs who were given the usual courtesy luncheon tickets. Mr. J. Pohlen said that the bal-ance-sheet was most satisfactory. He noticed that expenses had been cut down to a minimum, and the statement was a credit to the committee. He had great pleasure' in seconding the motion.

The chairman remarked that some comment had been made on the amount paid for refreshments, but the amount was almost wholly incurred through meal tickets and not liquor tickets. The Balance-sheet. The wonderful improvement which has been made in the financial position of the Matamata Racing Club, since Mr. B. C. Taylor volunteered to take over the secretaryship, is strikingly illustrated in the second balance shdet which he has produced, and which was presented. An improvement of exactly £IOOO has been made, a loss of £SOO having been converted into a profit of that amount. The loss for the year previous to Mr. Taylor taking charge of the finances was very heavy, and the situation was such that . there was a suggestion to wind up the club. In Mr. Taylor’s first year a heavy deficit was converted into a profit, and this last year a nett profit of £498 5s was made.

The balance-sheet for this year reveals that the race meeting receipts ( totalled £2795 18s Bd. The mpin items were: —Totalisator revenue, £ll6B 15s; nominations acceptances, £307 15s; dividend duty, £481; gates, £241 3s 6d; subsidy treasury,. £274 19s 8d; privileges, £120; race cards, £lO2 3s; fractions, £63 2s 6d; stakes tax, £37. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr. C. H. Clinkard,. M.P.; president, Mr. J. W. Anderson; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. Casey, G. Johnston and J. W. Tims; members of committee, Messrs. J. Landells, C. G. Payze, E. Johnston, J. Pohlen and W. C. Vincent; auditor, Mr. L. H. Little, Ballots were held for the position of president and also for the committee, and the voting was very close. Secretary Praised. The chairman referred to the excellent work done by the honorary secretary, Mr. B. C. Taylor, and suggested that handsome recognition should be made of his services. Mr. J. Price moved that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to make a generous donation to the secretary and that the amount be left to the committee. Mr. G. G. Bell seconded the motion.

Mr. J. Tims supported the motion, remarking that if they paid £IOOO a year they could not get a better man.

Mr. Taylor briefly returned thanks, remarking that the work was a hobby- to him. He was naturally proud that, though he took over when there was a loss of £SOO, there was now a profit of about the same figure. He suggested that when the overdraft was reduced to £SOOO a flat mortgage be obtained so that improvements could be made to the course. Life Member. Mr. J. C. Potts thanked the club for electing him a life member. The work of starting had appeared to him to be a simple matter in which he had had the assistance of all officials.