LIFE MEMBER OF TROTTING CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1930, Page 6

LIFE MEMBER OF TROTTING CLUB.

MR. W. J. BRADFORD’S MEMORIES. Mr. W. J. Bradford was elected a life member of the Hawera Trotting Club at the annual meeting. Mr. Bradford had been a member and an official of the club since its inception over 25 years ago, said the chairman, Mr. B. McCarthy, and he had always been noted for his enthusiasm for the sport. Years of service had not warped Mr. Bradford’s enthusiasm and no one was more worthy of the privilege. The president’s remarks were endorsed by the vice-president, Mr, E. A. Washer, and the motion was carried by acclamation. In responding Mr. Bradford traversed the history of tho club since its inception, when it was known as the Waimate Plains Trotting Chib, the inaugural meeting having been held on Mr, J. D. Mitchell’s property, Manaia, on August 29, 1906. The first president was Mr, D. Carrol and tho secretary Mr, R. W. J. McNeil. There had been seven events for stakes totalling £l2O. Mootings had been held at Manaia from 1906 to 1910 and from 1911 onwards at the Hawera racecourse. Tho first totalisator meeting was held in 1915, Hie investments for the day being £4353 10s, while on the first two-day meeting in 1925 the investments had reached £36,765. Tho stakes for the meeting last Easter had been £4OlO, including Mr. J. R. Corrigan’s gold cup, and the investments were £30,252. Ho remembered on one occasion that the club could not hold a meeting as it was in debt, continued Mr. Bradford, and six members had had to put in £l5 each to enable tho club to continue With tho installation of the totalisator things had brightened and since then the dub had made great strides. Ho hoped the day was not far distant when the club would be able to offer £lOOO as the principal stake. The club was fortunate in that it had the confidence of trotting owners from one end of New Zealand to the other ns well as Jli'e sporting public.