TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1930, Page 5

TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB

FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING MR. L. A. NOLAN RE-ELECTED. The fifty-fourth annual meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club was held last night, when Mr. L. A. Nolan occupied the chair. About 30 members were present. In moving the adoption of the report and balahcc-flheet the president said he regretted the balance-sheet showed a Jess creditable profit' than in the previous year, but an examination cf the balance-sheet would show that it was due to causes beyond the control of the committee. Comparing the balancesheet with that of last year they would see that there had been a shrinkage in receipts totalling £llOO, due to the fact that the totalisator returns, gate receipts, nomination® and acceptances had decreased. The Christmas meeting had proved somewhat disappointing and the second day with its unfavourable weather conditions and three onedividend races was largely responsible for the decreased profits. Then the Egmont Racing Club had decided to race a week before Taranaki. Whether that affected the acceptances and starters it was hard to say, but it was possible that trainers whose horses had two hard races the week previous felt that the horses required a spell before .racing at Stratford in the New Year. At all events at the Christmas meeting there were six oue-divideiid races in the two days. r The. February meeting had. proved one of the most successful that had been held for years. The stakes had attracted a splendid field and had provided a great race. He was pleased to say that the. committee had decided to retain the Stakes in next year's programme. The shrinkage in revenue was general throughout New Zealand owing to the financial depression. As showing how their expense® were increasing he stated that rates which in 1922-23 totalled. £323 this yeiu- totalled £597, and as the course was right in the centre of the town there was no hope of any,reduction unless they could obtain it by legislation or arrangement, and he did not know whether it was possible to make any arrangement in that connection. In any case the question of rates would have to be considered seriously before undertaking any big development work. The course was a big asset to the town. It was used for sports throughout the year, so that they were entitled to come relief if it was possible for the council to give it. The Racing Conference had allocated Egmont February 5 and 7, and Taranaki February 12 and 14, which would bo an improvement. However, he understood Wanganui was endeavouring to arrange with Egmont f-or February 5 and 7 and suggested that Egmont should, race, after Taranaki. That, however, Was a matter for Egmont to decide.

The committee had decided to make improvements to the racing track. It had gone carefully into the matter and •had decided that‘the time was not opportune to go into the big scheme that had been under way for some years, as that would entail large expenditure in buildings. They could not tackle that' for at least four or five years. They had, however, put in hand improvements to the bends at the High School and leading out of the straight. These would be completed shortly and should not only' make the course more attractive to owner® and trainers, but should make the track better and faster.

Regarding expenditure Mr. Nolan said that clubs had to face the position candidly, and as a result a meeting of delegates of all Taranaki Clubs would be held -next week to go into the question of general management with a view to reducing the cost of the various departments. The question of complimentary tickets, including ladies’ and luncheon tickets, would come under review, and while they did not want to restrict them too severely it was-hoped they would be able to arrive *at some satisfactory basis. In seconding ■ Mr. Nolan’s motion Mr. W. C. Weston said'that in addition to the rates the land tax amounting- to £lO.l was a further charge ■on the property. Mr. E. Jackson congratulated the-club on the very successful manner in which the racing had been conducted. After all, showing a large profit was not everything. On behalf- of the Trotting.. Club he thanked the Jockey Club for allowing them the use of the course and appointments. ■ The report and balance-sheet were adopted. There being only the necessary number nominated the following were declared elected: —-President, Mr. L. A. Nolan; vice-president, Mr. J. McLeod; honorary treasurer, Mr. W. C. Weston; committee, Messrs L. A. Nolan, G, Fraser, W. T. Hookham, J. McLeod, J. Scanlan, Franklin J. White; stewards, Messrs A. Alexander, E. Elliott, G. E. Jago, R. 11. Pigott, W. N. Stephenson, A, McL. Thomson, L. B. Webster. Mr. J. S. S. Medley was re-elected auditor. Mr. Vai Duff asked whether it would not be possible to give members more privileges. At present they were losers through being members unless they attended all four days of the meetings. They had to climb up three or four flights of stairs to their stand, and he considered the ordinary stand was the more comfortable.

Mr. Weston thought the provision of a free counter-lunch where members might meet together would be beneficial. The president agreed that membershad cause for complaint regarding their accommodation, which did not equal that of some other clubs. They had recently altered the stewards’ stand to give accommdation and he did not think it would be feasible to alter it further. The suggestion by Air. Weston appeared a good one, but the difficulty was lack of accommodation and he did not see that anything further could be done until the club cither made a definite step forward or decided to stop where it was. The committee was alive to the necessity of doing something-. Air. A. Higgs asked whether it would be possible to screen off a few seats for members’ wives. The president said the difficulty was lack of space.