NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 479, 28 September 1899, Page 17

NOTES.

There was very strong objection manifested by members of the A and P. Association to the granting of a five years’ lease of the ground to the Masterton Trotting Club, there being a deeprooted objection to the working of the totalisator on the property. The club had been granted a lease by the committee, but this was discovered to be illegal, as the sanction of a general meeting of members was required. They rolled up in great force, and some decidedly strong speeches were made. One strong opponent, Mr J. McGregor, said he opposed the proposal with a full knowledge of the enormity of gambling in New Zealand. It was said that the tote was necessary to purify racing, but he claimed that it had not done this, and that there were more bookmakers now than previously. Gambling had increased, and the evil should be put down. He admitted that he had never been on a racecourse, nor had he made a bet-in the colony. Personally, he didn’t object to a day’s trotting; it was the spielers and bookmakers he objected to. For the sake of £lO a year they should not throw the A. and P. ground open to the evils of racing. The next speaker, Mr Hill, thought the association should endeavor to popularise the show grounds. He didn’t think the tote question should be considered in the'matter at all. Mr G. E. Daniel said, let them have trotting by all means, but not the demoralising machine. Mr J. Dixon pointed out they were hearing a lot about the pernicious influence of the machine, but not a word about church bazaars, or the £4O they got for the use of the publican’s booth at the show. Mr Thos. Duncan, secretary of the Trotting Club, thought the question should be approached on business lines, and not from a sentimental standpoint. A. and P. associations were formed for the avowed object of improving the breed of cattle, and trotting clubs to improve the breed of horses. There was nothing illegal in the club’s meeting. If they didn’t have the machine they would have bookmakers, who were worse, A large number of the Trotting Club’s members were also members of the A. and P. Association, and they should receive some consideration. Mr G. Watson remarked that instead of it being a meeting of the A. and P. Association it resembled a meeting of the Anti-Gambling League. After further acrimonious discussion the lease was granted by 28 to 23.

One member of the A. and P. Association, talking on the Trotting Club’s lease question, alluded to bookmakers as being little short of pickpockets. Another individual pathetically remarked that he well remembered his blood being thrilled with the history of the prize ring, and the cowardly mohs that had declined to give the contestats fair. play. He said there was a similarity between their action and the Trotting Club, which wasn’t giving fair play in introducing the totalisator into their sport! Did you ever hear such balderdash ?

The annual meeting of the Wellington Trotting Club will be held in a few days’ time. The date has not been definitely fixed at time of writing, but at any rate the financial position of the club will not be as bad as it has been endeavoured by Southerners to be shown to be. A draft programme of the next meeting will be submitted, in order to save time and have the gathering advertised as early as possible.

At the annual meeting of the Eketahuna Club the election of officers resulted as follows : Patron, Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R.; president, Mr F von Reden; vice-presidents, Messrs Parsons, Bright, Stone-Wigg, Stainton, Irvine, Mathieson, and Mclntosh; secretary, Mr A. Vile ; treasurer, Mr McDermid (re-elected); judge, Mr F. von Reden, clerk of scales, Mr A. H. Herbert; starter, Mr Cowlam ; clerk of course, Mr E. Toohill; timekeeper, Mr Reeves; handicappers, Messrs F. D. Pelling and McDermid ; stewards, Messrs F. Wilson, F. C. Turner, F Lowes, A. Boulcott, S. and N. Neilson, H. Vile, C. H. Smith, G. Edwards, and Dr. Murray-Aynsley. The South Wairarapa Trotting Club has at last determined upon a mode of action with reference to No. 7 race at its last gathering. It will be remembered that Miro won three races during the afternoon, but on the last no tickets were registered on the machine, although one gentleman produced his ticket, which he said had not been rung on. There was considerable controversy on the subject, the outcome being that all ticket-holders on the race will receive their money back, less the usual percentage. A country paper remarks that, as the club has decided that the money in hand should be handed over to the hospital if not claimed after the end of the month, it is not likely that many claims will be made, as the money will be devoted to a good cause, and each ticket paid would lessen the amount to be handed over to the institution. Those who may have tickets have in reality suffered no loss, other than a speculative one, tor the winner, Milo, was not backed, and those investing their money on the other horses had practically lost their money when this horse passed the post first. We hope to be able to record the fact of the Hospital being benefited by a substantial amount, as the money is required for a special purpose, and one that will place the institution in a much better position to fulfil the requirements of the district. Wellwishers of the South Wairarapa Hospital will applaud the stewards of the Trotting Club for their decision, for while they deliberated at great length for the purpose of being perfectly fair and impartial on the totalisator ticket question, their resolution is also in the direction of making the amount to be handed over to the Hospital trustees more substantial than it would have been otherwise.

Acceptances for the Tahuna Park Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting close to-morrow (Friday), the 29th inst.

Mr A. I. Rattray, the secretary of the New Brighton Trotting Club, will receive nominations for that club’s Spring Meeting on Saturday next, the 30th inst.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club will be held on Monday next, October 2. The Otahuhu Trotting Club promises an attractive programme for its forthcoming meeting.

The nominations received by Mr C. F. Mark for the Spring Meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club are very satisfactory, though there are very few strange names included in the entries.

The handicaps for the events to be decided on the first day of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting are due to-morrow (Friday), September 29. The annual meeting of the Otahuhu Trotting Club was held at the Criterion Hotel, Otahuhu, on Friday, when Mr R. L. Absolum presided over a good attendance of members. The balance sheet showed that the club had had a most prosperous season, the net profit amounting to £lB2 17s 9d. This sum, added to last year’s balance of £403 2s Id, makes a total fund of £585 19s lOd, £2OO of which is placed on deposit and is earning interest at the rate of three per cent, per annum. The retiring committee were reelected, viz. : — Messrs W. Abbott, sen., R. C. Absolum, J. McLeod, J. Yearney, J. Harper, and H. Wilson. The following officers were appointed: —President, Mr A. R. Harris ; vice-presidents, Messrs W. F. Massey, Chas. Baker, W. Abbott, sen., and W. D. Bush; stewards, Messrs A. R. Harris, J. McLeod, W. Absolum, H. Lowe, R. L. Absolum, Ji Harper, W. Abbott, sen., O. Baker, Thomas McCrory, W. E. Frost, H. Wilson; judge, Mr A. R. Harris ; starter, Mr Geo. Cutts; handicapper, Mr W. Knight; treasurer, Mr W. Abbott, sen.; clerk of course, Mr Thos. A. Brown; clerk of scales, Mr F. W. Marks; secretary, Mr W. Lockhart. The Otahuhu Trotting Club has a case of alleged “ ringing-in,” which is stated to have occurred at their last meeting. ■