EXTRA DAY OF RACING

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1934, Page 6

EXTRA DAY OF RACING

PERMIT BUT NO SUITABLE DATE.

STRATFORD PRESIDENT’S VIEWS.

The fact that although the Stratford Racing Club secured a permit for an extra day’s racing it was found that no suitable date was available was the subject of comment at .the .annual meeting of the club last night by the president (Mr. D. J. Malone) who, while moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, suggested that there should be a revision of the number of days of racing on a more equitable basis. “I am sure all members were very disappointed at not getting the extra day of racing,” Mr. Malone said. “When we were granted the use of the permit I thought we would have no trouble in securing a, suitable date to race on as one day meetings are usually of a local nature, and providing the distance separating the clubs is sufficient they should not interfere with each other,” he said. The fact that five clubs were permitted to race in the North Island on January 1 and 2 should confirm that view, he thought. However, a number of objections were lodged by various clubs to the dates applied for were lodged by'various clubs to the dates applied for by Stratford. The chief ground for the objections appeared to be based on the question of Stratford’s interfering with the other clubs’ prospects. Unfortunately the Conference executive upheld two of the objections to the only dates considered suitable to the Stratford club. It was certainly hard to understand the reasoning behind the decision and it would appear that sufficient' consideration was not given to the matter of distance, 200 miles separating the clubs in question. That surely should be one of the main factors in granting dates for one-day fixtures. “We were confident of sufficient support being forthcoming to assure a successful meeting being held, but in the case of one of the objecting clubs it was necessary to abandon the meeting owing to the want of local support,” he went on. “I have no wish to enlarge on the matter but it certainly appears that the decision of the executive was unwise in our case and rather indicates that it is out of touch with local conditions. However, we are persevering with our application for additional days of racing this year and are hopeful that eventually we will be successful.” He had no hesitation in saying that Stratford could run a very successful autumn meeting on the dates asked for, March 31 and April 1, should a permit become available. Looking through the summary compiled by the conference it seemed that Taranaki was entitled to further days of racing. Outside the three large metropolitan districts of Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury, Taranaki compares more than favourably with other districts, yet only 12 days of racing were allocated to Taranaki. “I am of opinion that sufficient days of . racing are provided in New Zealand but are unevenly distributed, and we hope that by the amalgamation of certain clubs’ interests, days of racing would become available for redistribution on a more even basis,” Mr. Malone concluded. RED CROSS ACTIVITIES. ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES. A report that 13 adults and 14 children had received clothing from the Eltham Red Cross Society was made at the monthly meeting of the branch on Tuesday. Woman members of the Eltham Golf Club made a good response to the appeal for clothing. The president said t. house-to-house canvass would be made this month. It was reported that 12 men were taking the first aid instruction course, the majority being second year students. Tbe distribution of foodstuffs at the relief depot will be in charge of Mesdames Clifford-Jones, Reakes, GoldSmith and Muggeridge, and Mesdames Prentice and Reakes will be in charge of the clothing depot. NGAERE ATTENDANCE AFFECTED. WORK' NEEDED AROUND SCHOOL. The head teacher, Mr. G. Harre, reported to the mor .thly meeting of the Ngaere. school committee on Tuesday night that owing to the epidemic of measles the attendance of pupils during the month of July had been very poor, and the choir and folk dancing entries for the Hawera competitions would have to be cancelled this year. The committee decided to hold a working bee at the school during the term holidays to do necessary work in the environs of the school. On the recommendation of the head teacher, it was decided to have both schoolrooms fumigated during the holidays. ELTHAM PLUNKET WORK. DONOR’S GIFT APPRECIATED. Appreciation of Mr. C. A. Wilkinson’s generosity and assistance in providing a site for the Eltham Plunket Society’s proposed new building was recorded at the monthly meeting of the society on Tuesday. . It was decided to hold a shop-day in October. The report of the nurse stated the following activities: New cases 3, children under 5 under supervision 100, under two 112, visits to homes 28, visits to rooms 76 adults, 74 babies, 15 children. PLAZA, STRATFORD. UNIQUE POLICE FILM. An exceptionally large and talented cast of players appears in the principal roles of “Bureau of Missing Persons,” which commences at the Plaza Theatre, Stratford, to-day and is a humorous as well as thrilling revelation of the.,secrets in the lives of those who strangely drop out of sight. . It is a timely picture, suggested by the numerous sensational kidnappings that have roused America. There are 17 players in the leading speaking roles, all of whom have had brilliant careers on both the stage and screen. The list is headed by Bette Davis and Lewis Stone, the veteran screen and stage player, whose work was so notable in “Grand Hotel.” His is the counterpart of the position held in the New York police department by Captain John H. Ayres, the man who collaborated with Carol Bird on the book from which the screen play was written by Robert Presnell. Pat O’Brien, well k;.own stage player before he entered picture work two years, ago, has the romantic lead opposite Miss Davis. Glenda Farrell, Allen Jenkins and Ruth Donnelly, all well known players, are responsible for most of the fun with which the picture is packed.