NELSON JOCKEY CLUB.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13454, 27 June 1912, Page 6

NELSON JOCKEY CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. T.ho annual mooting of the NoJson Jockey Club was. hold at Mercer's room last evening. There was a fair attendance 01 members, and Mr. E. E. Trask (tho president) occupied the chair. Six now members wore elected. The report and balance sheet as printed, wnu taken as read. Ihe report stated that the annual nioo mooting hold on March 20th and 21st proved very successful, tho fields were larger than usual, and tho racing was excellent. The totalisatoi- figures constituted a record, the amount invested, £13,184, being an increase of £o,o<y on tho Jjgures ot tho previous year. Thu tota'.isator was worked by Mr. H. James and staff in a highly satisfactory manner. A matter or importance to"tho Club which will have- to bo considered by the incoming committee is that of providing increased accommodation for tho public at the totalisator. The present .structure is- hopelessly out of date, and a building of modern design would probably pay the cost of erection in a very short time. At the present time the Club has on fixed deposit and to tho credit of the current account £1,104 15s Bd., the increase on the year's operations being £383 6s lid.Tha Club a^ain retained the right of cards, which"'yielded'a net profit of £33 2s. The amount of nominations and acceptances outstanding is very small, and reflects great credit upon the secretary (Mr. J. Glen). . The unpaid nominations are chiefly from owners who were not represented at tho meeting. Outstandinnf subscriptions amount to £31 10s most of which are good. This year the Nelson Licensing Committee granted the Club conditional licenses, the result being that, £70 17s 6d was received from the sale of privileges. The assets of the Club are valued at £1,213 los Bd, the only liability being the secretary's salary for the half-year, £17 10s. For the first time the Club engaged the services of a professional starter, Mr. 11. E. Harley, of Rangiora, and his work gave every satisfaction. The services of Mr. J. Hagen, who had been honorary starter for flat races for many years, and Mr. A. F. Trask, who had been honorary starter for trots, wore suitably recognised by the Club. Your .oonimittoo regret the departure from Nelson of Mr. J. F. Hardey, who was a; keiau sportsman and an active mombor of the. club and ho was the recipient of a presentation from the Trotting Club and Jockey Club before leaving. Last year the Club increased the stakes by £250, tho amount offered being £1,000. It will be for the members to decide whether the- amount should be further increased. Tho opinion of several prominent owners has been ascertained, and they are of opinion that a uniform increase all round would bo preferable to providing big stakes for one ot two races. It is believed that by raising th<> stakes I'o r cat'h race, more hoj-Ses would Le citrifhsl to tho meeting. 11l accordance with the recommendation of the Racing < oinniii-sion, the course is now being fenced by the A. and P. Association, the club having taken a lease of "Richmond Park for five years.

The secretary stated that since the balance sheet was audited £10 had been received for nominations and acceptances, and £18 18s in subscriptions.

On the motion of the president, the balance sheet was adopted.

The secretary reported that Messrs. E. E. Trask and 11. Baigent had been' re-elected unopposed for the positions of president and vice-president respectively.

For the election of the committee of ten, eleven nominations were received, and tho following were elected : Messrs. J. 11. Finney, J. E. Bartlett, C. J. Harley, F. G. Edwards, W. Coleman, F. "VV.Fairey, J. Hagen,.G. M. Itout, C. J. llixll'ell, and J. Wadsworth. Thero being a tie between Messrs. N. Adams and <i. "Wadsworth, the president gave his casting vote in favour of Mr. Wadsworth, who had been a member of the committee for several years past.

Judge: Mr. J. E. Bartlett (re-elect-. cd«)j handicapper for trots, Mr. W. Colo-man (re-elected); clerk of scales, Mr. C. Haggitt; clerk of the course, Mr T. Elliott (re-elected) ; starter-for trots, Mr. R. Hunter (re-elected) ; starter for flat races, Mr. R. E. Harley,. Rangiora (re-elected) ; timekeepers, Messrs. R. Hunter and J. Glen (re-elected) ; audittjirfijUvie&rt,. IJ.l J. Jiondand-J'. H. Finney (re-elected) ; totalisator proprietor, Mr H. D. James (re-elected). Mr. J.---E-. Henrys retains his position as handicapper for the gallops. ■ it was resolved that Mr. J. O'Connor who had;left the district, bo written to and thanked for his past services as clerk of the scales.

On the motion of Messrs. J. E. Bartlett, seconded by Mr. C. J. Ruffell, it was unanimously resolved that £1250 be offered in stakes (an increase of £250). On the motion of Mr. H. Finney, seconded by Mr. G. M. Rout, it was resolved to fix th© nominations for all events .at £1.

The committee of the Club was appointed the programme cornmitteo, on the motion of Messrs. J. Hagen and F. W. Faircy. .' . . A circular was received from the secretary of the Racing Conference' Btating that March sth and 6th, 1913, had been fixed for the next annual race meeting of the Club. The South Canterbury Jockey Club wrote urging that the Government tax on clubs should be levied on the net profits of the meetings instead of on the gross receipts as at present. —-It was resolved to ask tlie Club's delegate at th© Racing Conference to support the proposal. Tho question of the erection of a new totalisator house was left in the hands of the committee.

Mr. Fairey referred to the success of the last race mooting, and considered that tho result was <itie to the progressive policy of the Club. He thought the officials of the Club should be complimented on th<> result of their efforts. It was iWohtd h"t th annual meetng of th' Chi') in Hit! jo bo hold on <- ti 1-n n ! t >l t „ committee c- t 1 Vm 1 (ti ! m t t <-. dibcivs&sd M in i ( blO p.m. i i A > > \ f chanks to t' (1 mi i