NELSON JOCKEY CLUB.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13168, 26 July 1911, Page 6 (Supplement)

NELSON JOCKEY CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING

(From "The Colonist," June ■ 29.),

The annual general meeting of membors of the Nelson! Jockey Club was held last evening. There was a- good attendance of members, and.the President (Mr, E. E. Trask) occupied the chair.

Several apologies were received from members tmable" to be present. Messrs N. Adams and A. Leckio were elected members of the club.

The report and balance sheet, printed and distributed by post; amongst/ members, was taken as read..; .The following is a synopsis of the annual report:—

"In presenting to members the audited statement of accounts for the year, your Committee have pleasure in reporting that the Club is still in a sound financial position, having £610 on fixed deposit (the same amount as last sear), and £118 8s 9d credit balance at the bank, an increase of £58 7s 9d. Subscriptions and donations totalled £90 Is as against £u'J os received last year, but a sum of £23 2s is still outstanding, in spite of repeated applications for payment by the secretary. The amount received from nominations and acceptances, including several amounts owing from previous years, totalled £313 15s, an increase of £53 10s on the receipts from these sources last year. -It is satisfactory to note that there are no nomination or acceptance fees outstanding. The revenue (from ,tbe totalisator (which was worked satisfactorily by Mr J. Ames and staff) amounted to £793 3s 6d, as against £491 10s 3d, the increase being largely due to the absence of bookmakers (who last year contributed £164 to the Club's funds) and who have been extinguished as a class by law. This,year the Club decided to retain the right of cards, the compilation of which was undertaken by one of your Committee, Mr J. H. Finney, the result being that a profit of £28 was made. No application was made to the Licensing Committee for a conditional license for the race meeting, consequently no revenue was received from this source, but £10 was received for the luncheon and refreshment rooms, and £1 for the oyster booth rights. The amount paid in stakes was £750, or £50 less than last year, and £195 0s 9d was paid as totalisator tax, as against £137 3s last year. At the present time the assets of the Club are valued at £826 10s 9d, a slight increase on last year. The annual race meeting was held in fine weather, and was fairly successful. The fields in the trotting races were exceptionally large, but "in the flat races were not as good as the Committee would like to have seen. The resolution passed at the annual meeting last year that the services to the Club of Mr Wm Coleman, as honorary handieapper for trots, should be suitably recognised, was carried into effect, and that gentleman was presented with a handsome silver tea and coffee service. The auditors again compliment the secretary on the manner in which the accounts of the Club are kept.

Mr. Baigent, following up his action of the previous annual meeting, stated that in his opinion the charge of £50 for two days' race meeting was too heavy a charge, and he moved that a deputation should wait upon the A. and P. Association Committee. The Jockey Club was not a wealthy organisation, and the charge .was a matter of moment to it. Mr. J. F. Hardey seconded the, motion, stating that he was heartily in sympathy with the statement that the charge was too heavy. In his opinion £30 was quite a sufficient charge, and he argued that expenditure on the stands,etc.. was for the benefit of the A. and P. Assoeiauw more than for the Jockey Club He hardly saw the necessity for appointing a deputations as it was done last year and never given effect to. Mr. G. M. Rout "also spoke strongly in favour of a reduction bein^ required.

Further discussion ■of the subject was deferred till later in the meet-

ing. The report and balance sheet was then duly adopted. Officers were declared elected as follows :—President, Mr. E. E. Trask (reelected unopposed); Vice-President, Mr. H. Baigent (re-elected unopposed) ; Committed: Messrs J. E. Bartlett, W. Colcman, F. G. Edwards, F. W Fairoy, J. H. Finney, J. F. Hardey C. J. Harley, J. Hagen, G. M. Kout, and J. Wadsworth. Twelve nominatins wore received for the Committee and the voting was taken by ballot per medium of the post. Mr. W. Coleman, as one of the oldest momebrs of the Cub, congratulated the President and Vice-President on being re-elected unopposed which ..showed the efforts of those gentlemen in tho past had been duly appreciated. Messrs Trask and Baigent acknowledged -the remarks of Mr. Coleman, Mr. Baigent adhering to his old view that these offices should be rolling so as to give some of the younger members a chance of proving their fitness for tho higher offices. Judge: Mr. J .E. Bartlett (re-elect-ed). . . Hon. Handicapper for trots: Mr. W. Coleman (re-elected). Clerk of Scales: Mr. Jas. O'Connor (re-electeel). Clerk of Course: Appointment left in the hands of the President, VicePresident and secretary. Starter for Trots: Mr. It. Hunter (re-elected). Starter for Gallops: It was resolved that a professional starter be engaged the Committeo to appoint. | Timekeepers: Messrs. J. Glen and R. Hunter (re-elected). Auditors: Messrs. P. Bond and J. H. Finney (re-elected). Totalisator proprietor: Left in the hands of the Committee. v Very complmentary references wore made to the manner in which the duties of judge and hon. handicapper of trots were carried out by Messrs Bartlett and Coleman respectively, lc is noteworthy that the nomination of Mr Coleman for re-election was made by two strong trotting men, Messrs. Hardey and Ruffell, who gave the handicapper credit for the manner in which he had brought his horses together. The fixing of the amount of stakes gave rise to a great deal of discussion. Mr. G. M. llout said that he was strongly of opinion that raising the stakes would lead to a revival of the Club. He would like to see £300 given for the cup in place of £85. Mr. Fairey was strongly of the same opinion and he criticised very adversely the class of horses that was seen on the Nelson course. He agreedwith Mr Rout that tho cup money should be largely increased. Mr. Coleman advocated the cup being cut out altogether and the substitution of a first-class hack and hack hurdl? race. Mr. Hardey said that the result was just J;ho same when larger stakes were given, anel he was favourable to cutting out the cup. Nelson was not a sporting community and much as he would like to see 'larger stakes if it would pay he could not see that it could be done properly. Mr Baigent agreed with Mr Hardey. The difficulty really lay 'in the expense of getting horses to .Nelson.. - Those in favour -bf higher . stakes urged, that owner's would 'incur the risk and expense if the' stages .were higher. ' ■ - ..'■■• Mr. Ruffell considered that the crux of tho question was, would the larger stakes bring a. larger attendance ? Mr: Edwards favoured a firsfc-olass .' hack meeting and better stakes. '.■The President said that to increase the cup to £300 would mean increa*sing other stakes\ pro rata and that wotf.d, in thp event of bad weather, mean endangering the club's finances. Mr. Fairey moved, and Mr,. Rout seconded -that the meeting, be made, a first class hack meeting and that the ' stakes offered bo £1,000. (Last year £7-!>0 was given). V ;

Mr. Hunter was not opposed to raising stakea; ljut he thought She whole

trouble lay with the lack of interest in racing in Nelson. The Presdent mo zed and Mr. Uagen seconded, that the stakes olierod be £800.

The amendment was lost, and the motion was carried. The President, Messrs Hartley, Bartlett, ltuffell, Colcman and Fairey were elected as a. programme committee. *

It was resolved that it be a recommendation to the Committee to consider the advisableness of adding a hack hurdle race to the programme. It was resolved to adhere to the dates already applied for, March 20th and "21st, for the race meeting. The secretary was appointed delegate to tlie New Zealand Sporting League Conferonce, which meets in Wellington next month. The question of charge for the use of the Park was again discussed and eventually it was resolved that the Committee of the Club wait upon the Committee of the Association and urge a reduction of the charge. It was resolved to request some alteration being made te> the totalisator approaches to give more facility for reaching the machine. It was rcsolveel that some suitable recognition be made of the services rendered for a number of years by Messrs. Hagen and A. Trask,as hon. starters for gallops ami trots respectively, the Committee to decide upon the form.

The mooting closed with the customary vote to the chair.