A.R.C. ANNUAL MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 54, 6 August 1891, Page 5

A.R.C. ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Racing

Club was held in their rooms, Durham street,

on Monday afternoon, when there was a larg'd attendance present. Mr. L. D. Nathan, vicepresident, occupied the chair. The secretary having read the advertisement calling the meeting, the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed." ■ The Report and Balance Sheet was read. Mr. Nathan added that the Club could be fairly congratulated on its efforts during the past year, there being a substantial increase >of membership, and an actual monetary increase of Bs. 6d. He said they had entertained, and had given great pleasure to the public and ' visitors from, all climes on their racecourse, which was one,of the principal ’attractions of the place. There was one point in reference to the totalisator tax he wished to , refer to ; he thought the proposed per cent, was too large, but if the tax was insisted upon, there were few with whom a go per cent, rebate would not find favour with for the establishment of Queen’s plates to be run for at the Metropolitan centres. These plates should be for the encouragement of horse breeding for stamina -as well as speed. He drew attention to the large field there was in India for remounts, and thought it would be good policy on the part of the Government to specially encourage the breeding of this kind of horse, the climate and surroundings being very favourable; he instanced Carbine and other turf celebrities as having been reared here. He moved the adoption of the Report and Balance Sheet.

Mr. Edwards wanted to know hoWthfe large amounts f6r Sundries was made tip. Mr. Percival said that it included the ambfihts paid to totalisator clerks, policetiieh, ahd gatekeepers ; the Stdrter, Cletk of the cbtirsd, and clerk Of the scales Were also ndw paid officials. Mr. A. E. Whitaker Said he also had thought the sundry charges very large, but now that he heard it included wages, he thbUgfit the amount very small indeed. The chairman said Mr. Percival, the secretary, would be glad to show his ledger to any member who desired to sed the items at aniy time. It was stated that members* unpaid subscriptions amounted to ios.; they were all good marks, but there Was a little trouble in collecting it at present. Thfe outstanding subscriptions was less than last year. The Report and Balance Sheet was then adopted.

Mr. Nathan said that as Mr. Maiks had resigned as a member of the Committee, and as Mr. Richard Duder; was the only candidate

in addition to the other membets he would declare Messrs. Buckland, Duder, Kirkwood, Lanigan, McLaughlan and Nathan elected. Mr. E. W. Alison proposed, ‘‘That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that at all conferences having for their object the consideration of matters pertaining to racing, that the suburban clubs subordinate to the rules and regulations of the Metropolitan Clubs shall be represented by at least one delegate from each Provincial District.” He said he represented the country clubs in this instance, and thought they should have a voice in the making of the rules they were forced to race under. He had shown his proposition to several, and it was the general opinion that the Auckland Racing Club were far too one-sided and conservative; they were too harsh and arbitary in their treatment towards suburban and country clubs, and he thought his proposition a fair and reasonable one, and one which • should be carried unanimously. Mr. j. Philson seconded the motion pro forma. Mr. Percival said the formation of the New Zealand Jockey Club would get over the difficulties Mr. Alison complained of. Mr. Philson thought the Metropolitan Clubs were far too liberal. Mr. Alison said his experience was very different. Mr. Morrin strongly objected to the wording of the resolution and suggested an amendment, ' but Mr. Alison preferred to have his motion rejected to being altered. Mr. L. A. Levy said /the.passing of such a motion woqld stultify the action of the Metropolitan Clubs, and Mr. Jno. ~ Kirkwood interacted that that was what it was ■ intended for. The motion was then negatived • on the\ Mr. Alison said he was not surpij&fed at the result, as he had been told by ovetJaalf-a-dozen persons before he came that thpsgh' liis’ motion was reasonable and fair it He rejected. He said the stewards came there with their minds already made up, and were not prepared to accept any reasonable • proposal, A vote of thanks to the chairman was then , proposed, and the meeting closed.