TROTTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 264, 7 November 1936, Page 6

TROTTING

WANGANUI CLUB ANNUAL MEETING HELD. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The annual meeting of the Wanganui Trottii, Club was held on Thursday night, the president, Dr. G. J. Adams, presiding. The annual report, which was adopted, was as follows: "It gives me great pleasure to present the annual report of the Wanganui Trotting Club (Incorporated) for the year 1935-36, for it displays such features as would establish the fact that your club is again just about to enter the realms of prosperity. As you are fully aware, your club has been struggling this past three years to wipe off a debt to the Stamp Duty Department of £1528 and not only is your objective on the threshold of being reached but your club has established itself in popularity with owners, trainers and the public to such an extent that your future success is, I think, now a foregone conclusion. As proud as you have every reason to be in regard to your own efforts in these respects, your success has been in no small measure due to the consideration given you by the Wanganui Jockey Club in allowing you the use of its course for your meetings at a low rental; and, therefore, after your next meetings you should be happy to feel that you will be in the position to repay the Jockey Club for its generosity in the near future; furthermore, you will be in the position to increase the popularity of your meetings by increased stakes and improved totalisator facilities. In mentioning these two latter factors, I would remind you that at your last meetings an attempt was made to do what little was economically possible in these directions, and I am sure you will all agree with me that both measures. were greatly appreciated by owners and public respectively, which appreciation should encourage you to go even further in the future. “A factor that was very favourably commented on by patrons at your last meetings was the expeditious manner in which your events were got off, and the swing with which your meetings proceedeed; this was in a big part due to the newly-introduced rule providing for only 35 minutes interval between events, an innovation so keenly favoured by the New Zealand president, Mr. H. F. Nicoll, and one which apparently gave satisfaction to our patrons, although the measure met with the opposition of some clubs. The New Zealand annual conference, however, have decided to continue with the venture for a further year, although I am inclined to think that the 40-minute interval will again be reverted to next year. “Your club was honoured at the New Zealand Annual Trotting Conference this year by the appointment of your president to the New Zealand Trotting Conference, the first time for a considerable period that any other than the large metropolitan clubs have been represented on that auspicious body. Although there was a certain amount of opposition to Auckland losing her representation, I am sure that no supporter of trotting in New Zealand would deny the country clubs occasional representation, and I feei that a considerable amount of good might be done for trotting if the conference decided to continue with two representatives from metropolitan clubs and one from country clubs on that body. "I regret to report that the West Coast trotting circuit is not functioning as well as it might, but I trust that the day is not far distant when Manawatu and Taranaki Clubs will be playing a more active part in this direction than they are at present; and I have no hesitation in saying that it will be for the ultimate betterment of trotting on this coast. "The club's finances need no further words of mine to elaborate the treasurer’s statements and balance-sheet clearly outlining the success of your last fixtures, and your sound financial position, as well as giving you a keen sense of satisfaction and confidence in the future prosperity of the club. Might I here be excused for drawing your attention to the fact that your membership list is not commensurate with 'your successes in all other directions and I trust that all members will make a point of increasing the popularity of the club in that direction by encouraging their friends to become members. “Your next year's fixtures are set down for March 13 and 20 to be followed by Hawera on March 27 and 29 and Taranaki on April 3, and it is to be hoped that the latter club will again be seen in active service this year. The issue of further permits by the Minister is eagerly awaited, and if these eventuate your club should benefit and thereby be in the position to hold another meeting later in the year; at present we are at a very big disadvantage with only one two-day meeting in the year and I feel sure that our patronage and popularity would be more than doubled if we could run a spring meeting as well as an autumn one. "The club is indebted to Captain Prictor, representing Messrs. Jas. Buchanan and Company, for presenting a canteen of cutlery and to Messrs. Young and Collins for a cup. Also to Dominion Breweries and Messrs. C. Moran and C. Mann who have signified their intention of furnishing trophies for the meeting next March.

“In conclusion I beg to thank the members of the executive for their loyalty and assistance throughout the year, through which my duties have been made light and my associations with the club a pleasure.’’ In speaking to the annual report, Dr. Adams paid a tribute to the services rendered the club by the treasurer, Mr. H. Hague Smith, who had filled that position with credit to himself and satisfaction to members. The chairman also expressed appreciation of Mr. G. Spriggens’ assistance as patron, and trusted that he would continue his help in the bright future which appeared assured with the advance of prosperity. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr. G. Spriggens; president, Dr. G. J. Adams; vice-pre-sidents, Messrs. T. Hurley, P. Carmichael and T. H. Lovegrove; committee, Messrs. T. Hurley, Muller, Mann and Nicholls (non-retiring) and K. Armstrong, Mills, Pritchard and Massen (re-elected); hon. treasurer, Mr. H. Hague Smith; auditor, Mr. R. Robson. Mr. Hague Smith said that he wouto like to pay a tribute to the zeal and

enthusiasm which had been infused into the office of president by Dr. G. J. Adams, who had done so much for trotting in the period during which he had been associated with the sport. Stating that he had entered trotting rather "raw,” Dr. Adams expressed appreciation of the opportunity afforaed him of learning something about the sport, in which he was now keenly interested. He felt, however, that it was to his committee that much of the credit for the past season's success was due. Dr. Adams announced that tropnres had been offered for the neij season by Dominion Breweries and by Messrs. C. Moran, A. Mills and C. Mann. It vjas decided to forward letters of appreciation to the donors for their generosity. It was decided to recommend to the incoming committee that every endeavour should be made to arrange a match race for Mr. C. Moran’s Impromptu at the forthcoming meetings. On it being reported that there was a likelihood of the Waverley A. and P. Association selecting a date for the autumn show to avoid a clash with the Wanganui trotting meetings, it was decided to recommend that a trophy be donated for trotting events at the show to mark appreciation of this evidence of co-operation. A committee consisting of Messrs. Carmichael, Mann and Mills and the secretary was set up to consider the suggestion that the Hawera Club be approached regarding the limits for the two cup races in order to secure better fields. Several members expressed the opinion that the barometer indicator was not required, but eventually it was decided to recommend to the incoming committee that the totalisator facilities be reviewed. It was decided to place on record appreciation of the honour done the club through the election of the president as a member of the trotting conference. Dr. Adams stated that he felt that it was an honour to the club and ne hoped that he would be able to do something useful on the conference. At any rate the country clubs were now represented. A letter of appreciation is to be sent to the Wanganui Jockey Club for its generous treatment of the trotting club, and the hope was expressed that the day was not far distant when they would be able to hold a combined week of racing and trotting.