MARTON JOCKEY CLUB.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11582, 24 May 1916, Page 8

MARTON JOCKEY CLUB.

ALL PROFITS TO BE DEVOTED TO WAR FUNDS. The annual general meeting of members of the Marton Jockey Club was held last night, there being a good attendance of members. Mr R, E, Beckett presided, . REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The report and balance-sheet as follows were read; During the past twelve months two meetings were held, one on the first Wednesday in September (the Rangitikei Hunt holding their meeting on the following day), and the Summer Meeting on the ist and 3rd January, both of-which meetings were exceedingly satisfactory to the Club’s funds, and the attendants and racing were both good. We are again indebted to the Club’s honorary and paid officers for the able way in which they carried out their arduous duties. Your committee deemed it necessary to take in hand the very meagre accommodation afforded to our outside patrons and erected a new outside stand, which will, I think, compare with any similar building on the Coast. New lavatories were also erected in brick, and aitogether a sum of over £2OOO was spent in improvements and plant, which, together with a sum of £4OO donated to war funds, accounts for the increase of the overdraft by £OB7 As will be seen by the Statement of Assets aud Liabilities, the Club is in a very strong position,'and should its next year’s profits not be largely donated to patriotic purposes, would probably show a credit balance on 81st March next —R, E. Beckett, chairman.

Receipts. Totalisator, Spring Meeting, £1855 8a; totalisator, Summer Meeting, 4s (>d ; war tax on dividends, £928 8s Od; nominations and accedtances £9BO 10s; members’ subscriptions and entrance fees £131; privileges, £519 (is (id; grazing foes £4B 18s 5d ; registration fees commission. £3 10s; training permits, £l9 10s ; riding fees commission, £l3 0s (id; gates, £lßll 19s 7d; sundry receipts £BB 9s; bank balance, 81st March, 191(5, £1(510 11s Bd. Total, £10,80(5 7s Bd.

Expenditure.—Bank balance, 31st March, 1!)16, £973 15s 8d : stakes at Spring and Summer Meeting, £3GSI ; salarie a £289 10s; gatemen £14.1 10s, buildings and Improvements £10(55 (5s 4d, plant £4l Is lid, horse feed £22 10s 4d. caretaker £125, donations to war funds £4OO. music £3O, insurance £37 3s lod, car hires £34 17s, stamps, telephones, telegrams, etc., £37 3s Id : stationery £3 18s 9d, water charges £2 9s 4d, N.Z.R.C. stipendiary and levy £(!3 Is 4d, . luncheons and refreshments £(!0 19s, rates and taxes £3B 15s, freight £4 14s, commission selling cards £ls 3s lid, printing and advertising £319 7s 7d, labour and maintenance £77 5s 4d, half of share repairing roads £7 9s, travelling exuenses delegate to W.J.O. £9 17s Bd, bank, interest, exchange and charges £ll3 2s 7d, Turf Registers £8 Ss, rent of ollice £2O, sundries £2(5 8s sd. Total, £10.80(5 7a Sd.

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES. Assets. —Land £1(51(5 19s 2d, buildings and improvements £5931 Bs, buildings and additions £19(55 Gs 4d. less 10 per cent depreciation £789 13s 0 1—£7107 0s 10d ; plant account £38(5, additions £4! Is lid, less 10 per cent depreciation £42 14s —£381 7s Mil; sundry debtors, £39 13s od. Total, £9148 Is sd. Liabilities. —Bank of New Zealand £1(510 11s Bd,. balance £7537 9s 9d. Total, £9 48 Is sd. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman referred to the year's successful operations, and to the erection of an outside stand for its patrons, which was undoubtedly one of the best outside stands in the Dominion. The club, perhaps, had not contributed so liberally to patriotic purposes as might have been expected, but they were under an obligation to tho Bank to reduce their overdraft to a certain sum by the end of tho financial year. The bank overdraft had increased by about £7OO, but this was accounted for by the extraordinary expenditure in the erection of a stand and lavatories. The question of curtailing racing had been discussed all over the world, and alihough meetings had been reduced iu number at Home and in Australia, it was still thought that racing was a relaxation, especially for those who had returned on furlough from the front. The amount paid by Racing Clubs to the war funds was exceptionally large: in fact, much larger than that contributed by any other branch. He did not think that the tight jockeys would oo acceptable at the front. Tho question of luncheon tickets had been referred to continuously, bat the club hud to be governed by what was done by other clubs iu the district.

Mr J. H. Miles seconded the adoption of the report, and congratulated tho committee on their work during the year. He thought that when" money was made easy there was always a tendency to spend it more freely, and especially by Jockey Clubs. * The luncheons might easily he curtailed. It was obvious that as a Jockey Club they had to put up with a good deal of opposition from those who were not supporters of the turf. At present the grounds were being used by the Golf Club, Motor Cycle Club ami the A, and P. Association, and these Clubs would serve to popularise the grounds. Ho would like to see the grounds made more ornamental, and "a system of planting outlined. Ho would move that it be a recommendation to the committee to plant the ground with English and ornamental trees.

The Chairman slated that they were only too pleased to hear criticisms from any 'member, am! MiMiles’ remarks were always worth listening to. Messrs B. ,1. Gibbous, H.“J. Cameron, M. MeManaway and F. Brice also spoke on the luncheon question, the opinion being generally expressed that it was a difficult matter to contend with unless there was concerted action by all the clubs on this coast. Tbo repmt and balance-sheet were adopted. ELECTION :u OFFICERS. The whole of tin officials wore reelected as follows President, Mr R. Aldworthp vice-presidents, Messrs R, E. Beckett, I). G. Riddiford, and Drs. Bennett and Skermau ; lion, judge, Mr R. H. Aid worth; bamlicapper, Mr G. Morse; starters, Mr C. O’Connor and Mr A. Keith; clerk of course, Mr W. E. Gibbous; hou.* clerk of scales, Mr F. L. Young; hou. assistant clerk of

scales. Mr J. H, C. Broad; lion, timekeeper, Mr R. F. Wood; hou. treasurer, Mr D. G. Kiddiford; secretary, Mr Arthur Way.

Four vacancies on the committee and stewards—Messrs K. H. Aidworth, -F. R. H, Brice, S. J, Gibbons, and F. L. Young.

APPRECIATION OF SERVICES.

The full owing resolution, proposed hy Mr S. J. Gibbons and seconded by Mr L. M, Richards, was carried by acclamation :—“That this meeting place on record a vote of gratitude and appreciation of the services rendered by Messrs R. E. Beckett and D. G. Riddiford and Dr Skerman to the Marton Jockey Club in guaranteeing the Club’s account at the Bank.’’

NET PROFITS TO WAR FUNDS. Mr McMannway stated that he wished to make a recommendation to the meeting. It was considered a moot point whether they should race, but that rested with the New Zealand Racing Conference. There was also another aspect. Racing was a sport in New Zealand, and was well managed by those in authority and the racing clubs. It was doubtful whether they wero doing sufficient for the wounded sailors and soldiers. They had given £4OO this season, but was that sufficient? If they wero as successful next season as they were this season they would nave a credit balance, and lie saw no reason why they should not be. In view of the splendid financial position . of the Club he would move: —That it be a recommendation to the committee that the net profits of the Club for the year 191(5-17 be wholly devoted to war funds. Mr S. J, Gibbous .seconded Hie resolution, which was carried unanimously, A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman terminated an interesting meeting. COMMITTEE MEETING.

At a committee meeting held subsequently Mr R. E. Beckett was unanimously re-elected chairman. Messrs L. M. Richards, S, J. Gibbons, J. McDounel and E. Openahaw were elocted the Course Committee, and Messrs K. W, Daighton, H. J. Cameron, S. J. Gibbons and the secretary a programme committee.