WAITOITOI BEACH RACES

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1930, Page 9

WAITOITOI BEACH RACES

DECISION TO “CARRY ON.”

ANNUAL MEETING OF CLUB.

Despite very unfavourable weather there was a representative attendance at the annual meeting of the Waitoitoi Picnic Racing Club,"-which was held in the Urenui Hall last night. There was some discussion on the apparent apathy that has been late years towards the racqs and a suggestion was , - put forward that it might be advisable to abandon the, jneefmg. That, however, was considered to be a retrograde step and it was unanimously deci4ed to “carry on.’’ A strong-committee was set up and suggestions were made which should tend to popularise the gathering. Mr. G. N. Skelton presided. The annual report showed that the race meeting on the beach at Waitoitoi again proved successful. Although ideal weather conditions prevailed there was another marked fall in the attendance and it appeared, as though the public did not fully appreciate the fine day’s outing that was provided and the com- - mittee recommerided that some drastic measure be adopted in order to stimulate interest in the meeting, The fields though not large were up to their, usual standard of quality and the racing generally was of an interesting nature, the various events being contested and some close 'and exciting finishes being witnessed. The balance-sheet showed- that receipts for the race meeting had totalled. £64 9s 6d, the items being nominations £36, gatgs £7 2s, tickets and. donations £l9 2s 6d, riders’ certificate £2-55.-Expenditure totalled £74 2s 4d, the principal items being stakes £44 10s, advertising and printing £ll 13s, -insurance £3 3s, fees and stamp duty £4 10s 6d. There was a loss on the year s working of £9 12s. 10d. There was a credit balance of 10s 7d as compared with £lO 3s 5d at the beginning of the season. In moving the- adoption of the report the chairman said that it seemed that the club hadi to do something. The Pukearuhe members were working like Trojans but the club had not been re■ceiving support from the other parts the district. However, it looked as though tlrcyy were going, to get that support this year. He hoped all would pull together to make, the meeting a success as it would certainly be a retro-" grade step to see the meeting lapse, especially as it was regarded very highly outside the district. The motion was seconded by Mr. J. Drosdowski. -Some’ discussion ensued on the question of carrying on. The secretary pointed out thait in the event of the club continuing there was available an additional £l2 0s Id .profit fr two euchre parties recently held/It had certainly been an uphill fight for several years. Fields had been small and the attendance uns&tisfactory. He would like to know what was the club’s ultimate aim in tfie event of carrying on and proving successful. Mr. Luxton: That depends;, on the patronage. : ’ The chairman said he ■ had heard it suggested that they §]iotild cater moie for the 'picnic side of the;, function, but they were,under the jurisdiction of the' , Racing Conference and’ had to copform to the rules, which were becoming very

stringent. \ The secretary said that unless the club could include some novelty events it would have to cut out the picnic aspect altogether. ' Mr. G. Salway considered the fact that so many outside ■ trained horses competed, and that farmers’ local horses did not have a chance of winning militated againsfblarge entries. A suggestion was made that more events should be prpyided. for local , horses.

After further discussion it was resolved on the motion of Messrs T. Rogers and J. that the club carry on. • m ' Officers were elected as follows:—Patron, Mr. W. J. Polson (re-elected’; president, Mr.-F. -G.vHealey (re-glected); vice-president’s, Messrs A. M. GordonGlassford (Pukearuhe), T. Wright ■ (Okoke), S? Topless (Urenui), P. Cole (Motonui), J. H. Phillips (Waitoitoi), and J. Fitzgerald (Uruti); general confmittec, Messrs A. Northeott, G. N. Skelton, T. Rogers, R. J. Luxton, J. Drosdowski, G. Baker, G. Martin, C. Rumball jun.,. P. Carey, P. J, Zimmerman, 0. Rumball, G. Salway, C. Bich* eno, A. Sheard, C. Henwood, G. N. Fuller, I. Cole, J. Edwin, J. Cole, I. Honeyfield, E. Tate, M. Jonas, A. M. Zimmerman,.'jy. Scott, T. Martin, F. C. Rowe and sXMoody; executive, Messrs R. J. Luxton, G. N. Skelton, G. Baker, J. Drosdowski, T. Rogers, G. Martin, and the secretary; treasurer,' Mr. G. . Baker (reacted); honorary secretary, Mr. A. M<— Zimmerman (re-elected); clerks of scales, Messrs G. N. Fuller and D. Tate; judge, Mr. R. J. Luxton (reelected) ; handicapper, Mr. G. Rumball (re-electqd). ' . It was ’decided to hold the races on the first y suitable Thursday following the show. It was also decided to invite iqe cooperation of the Hunt Club with a view to arranging/events for hunters D l ® day of the races. . .