SPORTING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 2 June 1923, Page 10

SPORTING.

GERALDINE RAGING CLUB. Tlie'annual general meeting of the Geraldine Racing; Club was held on ■Wednesday.' evening in the Crown Hotel,;- a' large :■ attendance of members b£ihg-present., Owing to. the unavoidable abscence of the president (Mr A. G. Macdonald), Mr D. E. Lewis the chair. _ Thel annual report was presented by th§ secretary (Mr J. Kennedy) on behalf of the president. It showed that the club had a credit at the bank of £l5B 10s, and assets of £I9O3HOs, the club’s total assets being £2llß ,6s 6d. The amount paid in stakes was £I9BO, and taxation amounted to over £2OOO. Inclement weather prevented many people from attending the race meting, consequently the totalisator turnover was £6500 below the previous year. Nominations and acceptances brought in £638,. gate receipts £417, and members' subscriptions amounted to £220. The management of the fixture was voted as good, and taken altogether the results were satisfactory concerning the conditions and the times. . Mention was made of the installation of electrically-oper-ated barriers, and it Avas stated that Mr D. P. McNab’s starting was one of the features of the meeting. A contract had been let for painting the whole of the buildings and fences, which would considerably improve the appearance of the course. Mr T. Blanchard, a member of the committee, had resigned owing to removal from the district. Mr Kennedy had attended the Country Racing Clubs’ Conference, and would report later on the work done. During the year Mr R. Kennington, a very

old member of the club, who bad acted as a steward and timekeeper for a number of years, had passed away, and the sympathy of the club was extended to Mrs Kennington and family. Thanks were tendered to officials and others for the support given during the year, and to St. John Ambulance Brigade for attending the meeting with the motor ambulance.' fin moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, Mr Lewis said the club was in a very good position. The date of its meeting was the best possible for this part of the country. The report and balance sheet were adopted. The following new members were elected: —Messrs J. T. Deehan, Grant, C. Kerr, S. Laurenson, R. Simpson, T. J. Thompson, G. Blissett, S. Uprichard, and F. Fish. Officers were elected as follows: — Patron, Air B. R. Macdonald; president, Mr A. G. Macdonald: vicepresidents, Messrs D. E. Lewis and J. C. South; committee, Messrs D. Alacdonald, C. Stock, A. South, AV. Quirke, AV. T. Turner, G. Worner, A. Brown, B. R. Macdonald, J. Alacdonald, A. J. Burmester; auditor, Air J. B. Stewart Air Kennedy reported on the meeting of the Country Racing Clubs Association, at which 90 clubs were represented. He had supported a resolution protesting against the burden of taxation on the sport, and had proposed a motion asking the Government to consider an increase of totalisator permits. The stakes tax had also come up for discussion, and a protest made against the increase from one to ten per sent. They asked that this be reduced to 2| per cnt. He had opposed a proposal for the licensing of bookmakers, and had supported a request to the Railway Department to grant a reasonable tariff for carrying horses. Mr Hawke spoke in regard to the

J Gaining facilities at the Orari course, | where he said owners could not use ; the tracks although they paid license fees. j Mr^. South said there was a good j deal in Mr Hawke’s contention, i Mr Lewis said , there was no ini tention to keep owners off the tracks, ! but at times they were to wet to be j used. / Mr Hawke moved that “ horses be , allowed to work on the course pro- , per when in good condition, under the supervision of a member of the ’ committee.” This was seconded by ' Mr A. South, but the motion was lost ; by 13 to 11. ■ Mr J. C. South moved that it be a recommendation to the committee , to reduce the Cup stake by £so. Carried. j It was decided to raise the secretary s salary to £IOO per annum Messrs Quirke and J. C. South, in speaking to the motion, paid a high ! Gibute to Mr Kennedy’s efficiency. Mr Kennedy made suitable acknowledgment, 'and the meeting closed.

There will be racing to-day at Ellerslie, Otaki, and AVingatui; and trotting at Canterbury Park. General Advance shaped indifferently at Ellerslie on Tuesday in a schooling gallop with En Route and Omahu, both of whom gave pleasing exhibitions. G. Young goes to Sydney with* Gloaming and other members of Air G. D. Greenwood’s team for the spring meetings. Entries for the South Canterbury Hunt point-to-point meeting close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday next. Tigerland made many friends by the way he schooled at Ellerslie on Tuesday, and it was reported that when the son of Finland pulled up after crossing the hill he would hardly have blown out a candle. The Wellington winter meeting this year will extend over three days, the Minister of Internal Affairs having granted a special permit at the request of the AVellington Carnival Committee.