THE WAIRARAPA PACING CLUB

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 528, 6 September 1900, Page 13

THE WAIRARAPA PACING CLUB

THE ANNUAL MEETINGWellington, August 30. There were about eight members present at the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Racing Club, Mr Charles iSlgar being in the chair. In seconding the adoption of the report moved by the ChairTnan, Mt W. E. Bidwell said that although £5OO more had been given in stakes, a net profit of £842 had been made. There was a gross increase of receipts of £645 10s 4d, made up as follows Privileges, £194 14s 3d; nominations and acceptances, £llO ; totalisator, £133 Os 4d ; tea pavilion, £ll Os 9d ; training permits, 15s ; donations to Cup, £175. There was a decrease of £26 10s on’ lawn gates, and.£ll in members’ subscriptions. As regards the receipts at the lawn gates, the New Year receipts were allright, but were less at the Autumn Meeting, the reason probably being that people became aware of the complete accommodation afforded outside. The decrease in membership has arisen through several members having left the district, while several had been removed by the hand of death. It would interest members to know that although there’was a net profit for the year of £842 16s 9d on the working account of the Club, nothing had been received for rent of the course. The stewards had decided to purchase sheep and de pasture them, and the returns would come in this year. It had been found necessary to have sheep for feeding off the various enclosures. He had gone to the trouble of taking out figures for the past three years, as he thought it right that members should know how progress was being made. The receipts and expenditure for the past three years were as follows: —1898, £lO4l and £284 profit £767 ; 1899, £1164 and £342, profit £822 ; 1900, £1196 and £353, profit £843. This showed that although £5OO more had-been given in stakes in 1900, the profits were fully as large. He saw no reason why their liabilities should not be wiped off in two or three years. The stewards had arranged with the Bank for £2OOO at 6 per cent, as they thought it better to be able to pay off the overdraft when occasion permitted. This was considered more satisfactory than the issue of debentures. The grandstand had co t £1402 9s 4d; the totalisator house £323 13s, which included £94 for fences and alley-ways ; architects’ and overseers’ fees, £2ll 2s sd; lake, lawn filling, etc, £409 10s lOd; new fencing and, shifting fences £297 2s, being a total of £2643 17s 6d. This exceeded by £643 17s 6d the sum authorised to be spent, and part of this was occasioned through it being thought necessary to build a totalisator house to accommodate three machines. Mr A. M. VTilkinson, who followed Mr Bidwell, said be could not congratulate the stewards on the result of their work. '1 he stewards had been granted permission to spend £l5OO on improvements, which was subsequently increased to £2OOO, but they bad spent £2700. The new grandstand was to seat 1000 people, but there was only sufficient accommodation for 400. He could not congratu'ate the stewards on the way they had spent the money. He didn’t like to move a vote of censure, as there was little chance of it being carried if the meeting was rigged up. Mr W C. Buchanan said he was rather surerisedat Mr Wilkinson failing to move a vote of pcnsnre. He was quite within his right to com

ment upon proceedings resulting from the balance sheet so long as he used language not objectionable to the sense of right of members of the Club. He considered Mr Wilkinson’s words “ rigging up, could be termed offensive not only to the chairman of stewards, but to those present. The stewards had no doubt found themselves com pelled to exceed the amount they were empowered to expend, but Mr Wilkinson should have shown that it was possible to put on the course the same improvements at a less cost. If the estimates for the improvements had not proved reliable there was only two courses open for the stewards—either to refer back to the Club or go ahead. They could not think for a moment that the men who had worked so hard for the Club had wilfully deceived them. . .After further debate the adoption of the balance sheet was carried. The following new members were elected : W. B. Chennells, H. Francis, Henare Parata, S. Polson, G. W. Innis, Duncan Cameron, H. Willis, E. Toogood, H. Tutbury, D. Munro, J. Malcolm, J. Stevens, JR. Beetham, A. Hannay, G. Brickell. The election of officers resulted as follows : President, Mr J. P. Russell; vice-presidents, Messrs H. S. Wardell, W. E. Bid will and N. Grace ; Judge, Mr J. S. Gundy; timekeeper, Mr N. Grace; clerk of scales, Mr J. W. Card; surgeon, Dr Bey; treasurer, Mr G. Reynolds; auditors, Messrs A. H Knowles and C 'J. Kent-Johnston; stewards, F. Pearce, C. Elgar, S. Cundy, G. Hume, T. Benton, jun. The stewards were recommended to procure accommodation tor the custodian at a cost of £2OO.