OTAUTAU RACING CLUB

Southland Times, Issue 24602, 26 November 1941, Page 3

OTAUTAU RACING CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING The president, Mr C. G. G. Sinclair, presided over an attendance of 25 members at the annual meeting of the Otautau Racing Club. The chairman referred to the death of Mr R. Chamberlain, son of Mr J. Chamberlain, one of their valued members, who had died of sickness while serving overseas. A motion of condolence with the family was carried. In movin; the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mr Sinclair said the club had unfortunately made a loss on the meeting, this being due to the weather. The racing, however, was of a high standard, and considering the poor gate the club was lucky to put through the totalizator the amount it did. In his opinion the meeting had been held too near Riverton previously, but this year the meeting should be a success as the date was three weeks to a month before the Southland meetings, and he hoped a new era was dawning for the club. The property was in first-class order a:.d the trade was in good condition. A considerable sum of money had been spent in renovating and repairing the buildings, and this expense would be non-recurring for a number of years. The following officials were elected: President, Mr C. G. G. Sinclair; vicepresident, Mr K. A. McKenzie; six members of committee, Messrs T. Gill, J. N. Laurie, F. Malcolm, A. R. Simon, J. E. I' Icolm 'nd S. J. Sanford; auditor, Mr G. H. Hodges. In moving that a minute of appreciation of the services given to the club by Messrs A. A. Liddell and D. McGregor be recorded, the chairman said l.e regretted their retirement from the committee. In seconding .the motion Mr T. Hamilton said he had been connected with the club since its inception and referred to the good work done by Mr l iddell and the late Mr M. O’Brien. In reply Mr Liddell said he would still take an interest in the club, and hoped that it would benefit greatly by the change in date.

Mr Chilton moved that it be a recommendation to the committee to consider the erection of hurdles at the gates to enable gatemen to control pedestrian and motor traffic. A discussion took place on the retention of the steeplechase on the programme, Mr McKenzie contending it would be a costly business on account of the fact that the hurdles and fences required to be renewed. Mr Simon considered that the committee should give consideration to the matter before this event was dropped from the programme.

Mr T. Hamilton said that the suggestion made by the chairman that trees be planted with the object of having permanent fences was a good one. It would be a pity to drop the O’Brien Memorial Steeplechase, as it was a great draw card, and if it had not been for the late Mr M. O’Brien there would lave been no club in Otautau today.

It was resolved that it be a recommendation to the committee to include this event and at a subsequent meeting this was agreed to.