ANNUAL MEETINGS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 213, 23 August 1894, Page 3

ANNUAL MEETINGS.

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB. The fourth annual meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club was held at the Club’s offices, Durham-street, last Monday afternoon. Mr W. Adams occupied the chair, and there was a good number of members present. The annual report of the committee was as follows : — “ Gentlemen, —Your committee have to present your fourth annual report and balance sheet, and regret that it is not of so favourable a character as those that have been put before you in the past. The net loss on the year’s working shows £286 17s nd, which being deducted from the balance to credit of profit and loss account at the 31st July, 1893, leaves a present balance of £531 os 2d to the credit of that account. The explanations your committee have to offer for this loss are to be found in the following facts—viz., that, notwithstanding a large increase in the amount of stakes offered for pony racing, the number of ponies which competed at the club’s meetings during the past season was not half of that which

took part during the previous year. The government tax, amounting to £"204 9s sd, had to be deducted from the club’s revenue, instead of, as in the previous year, charged to the public. Then, at the Summer Meeting, the Auckland Trotting Cup was increased to 400S0VS. This action, we now find, was not warranted by the result, as the club lost £2OO on that race alone. The total amount given in stakes during season was £2560 5s net, for six days’ racing, being an average of £426 per diem, and your committee regret that with the result of the past year before them it is necessary to considerably reduce that amount, and in the programme which they have now drawn up, they have materially reduced it, notably in the case of the Auckland Trotting Cup, which this year is £ 230, and the Pony Cup, which has been reduced one-half. The club has during the year expended a considerable sum of money on the course, in all £440 ; £350 of this amount was provided by the club. Your committee have written off a fair proportion of this amount against the year’s working; the balance they consider a fair asset, which should only be written off year by year, until the lease expires. A matter for congratulation to the club is the importation of standard bred American trotting stallions which has taken place during the year, and as the improvement of roadsters in the district was the primary object for which the club was formed, your committee think there is good reason for gratification at this result. According to the rules, six members of committee retire ; viz., Messrs J. S. Kidd, W. Paul, A. R. Harris, J. Hunter, D. Harford, and C. E. Abbott. The first five, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election; Mr Abbott, for private reasons, has decided to withdraw. Messrs J. Rowe, G. Mcßride, A. Coates, and G. H. Lawrence have also been nominated to fill the vacancies.”

Balance Sheet, 31st July, 1894.

By Balance, 31st July, 1893 £BO7 18 1 C. F. Mark, Secretary. The Chairman stated there was nothing he could add to the report in the way of remarks, so he would content himself with simply moving its adoption. Mr S. C. Caulton seconded the adoption. Mr D. Tonks drew attention to the amount of debt owing to the club as shown by the report. “ Sundry debtors ” were down for £317 us 6d, and “unpaid subscriptions” amounted to £4l ios, making £359 is 6d in all. That was their chief asset, and it was a pity to place such figures in the balance sheet when it was well known that a large amount

of the money outstanding would never be paid. The figures relating to unpaid subscriptions meant that 83 members had not paid up 1 Surely more should have been written off the £317 odd.

The Chairman remarked in answer to Mr Tonks that the Finance Committee had gone through all the debts, and he was convinced from their work that the debts stated in the balance sheet were as good as if he and Mr Tonks were answerable for them. They were all recoverable. He might state that since the preparation of the balance sheet the sum of £4O had been paid in to the club. Mr Tonks referred to the time some of the amounts were outstanding, viz., two years. Mr Caulton, as one of the Finance Committee, stated that he had gone through all the accounts and had found them to be perfectly sound. Almost every shilling was good. A certain amount had been struck off, but, the figures shown in the balance sheet were perfectly safe. The report and balance sheet were then adopted. A ballot for six members of committee resulted as follows :—A. R. H'arris 43, J. S. Kidd 42, A. Coates 25, J. Hunter 25, D. Harford 23, J. Rowe 23, W. Paul 21, G. Mcßride 20, G. H. Lawrence 20, Messrs Harris, Kidd, Coates, Hunter, Harford, and Rowe were declared elected. The Chairman stated that owing to pressure of private business Mr C. E. Abbott had retired from the position of treasurer.

Votes of thanks to the retiring treasurer and the chairman terminated the proceedings.

LIABILITIES. £ s. d. To Sundry Creditors ■ ■■ 57 13 3 Balance from Profit and Loss Account ... 521 0 2 Z’SZS 13 5 ASSETS. Z s. d. £ s. d. By Sundry Debtors .... 317 11 6 Sundry Debtors forUnpaid Subs. .. 4110 0 359 1 Less 5 per cent., per Profit and Loss 17 19 6 0 6 ....... 1 Office Furniture . .. 2 17 b Sulkies ... 50 0 0 Debtor for Rent of Course ... ... 25 0 0 Assets on Course ... 58 2 9 Cash in Bank and hand ... IOI IO 8 Z578 13 5 PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT, JULY 31st 1894. EXPENDITURE. £ s. d. To Stakes (net) .. 2560 5 0 Advertising and Printing .... .. 116 15 3 WaoAS at Mppfinp-s 2 0 Salaries, viz.—Secretary, Handicapper, Clerk of Course, 18 Scales, and Starter .... .. 213 0 General Expenses, Office Rent and Rent of Course .... .. 204 IO 9 Auditors 3 3 0 Government Tax ,.. 204 9 5 Depreciation of Sulkies 7 0 0 Bad Debts .. 25 7 6 Deduction off Debtors, 1894.. 17 19 0 Z3399 9 11 Balance brought down 11 Balance per Balance Sheet .. .. 521 0 2 Z807 18 1 RECEIPTS. £ s. d. By Members’ Subscriptions .. 47 IO 0 Nominations and Acceptances .. 1283 5 0 Gates and Stand .. 3*9 IO 0 Privileges at Meetings .. 3 6 ° IO 0 Totalisator 6 Measuring Fees 3 17 6 Sulky Hire .. 8 0 0 Fines .. 2 0 0 Selling Race ,2 0 0 Interest .. 12 14 0 Deduction off Debtors, 1893 .. .. 22 iG 0 Balance down .. 286 17 II £3399 9 II