DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1474, 25 July 1918, Page 14

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB.

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club was held on Thursday evening last, Mr. P. Miller (president) occupying the chair. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, the president congratulated the club on a fairly successful year. The racing had been interesting and free from malpractices. There had been two days less racing, but the stakes had been kept up. A good deal had been said about racing during the war, but there was much that could be said in its favour. For one thing, it yielded the Government far more money in the way of taxation than most persons were aware of, and that taxation cost the Government nothing for collection. The spring meeting was the only one at which the expenditure exceeded the receipts, but it must be remembered that at that meeting the two classic events — the McLean Stakes and the Dunedin Guineas — entailed a financial loss. From a racing point of view, however, those events were satisfactory, and advisable to keep going, and the entries for the coming season were highly promising. All the other meetings showed a profit, especially the winter meeting, which was a great success. Owing chiefly to the war, the buildings and course had been more or less neglected, but the time had come when these matters must be given due attention. They must also make provision for the liability of £2900, which would be due in December. The club had a very fine property, with a very small debt, which he would like to see reduced. The curtailment of the railway service had resulted in increased motor traffic to the course, and some provision would have to be made in the way of providing motor accommodation, which at present, he felt sure, was not sufficient. Members would be pleased to learn that negotiations were on foot whereby a piece of ground at the back of the course would be exchanged for a piece fronting the road, which would enable the club to provide the accommodation sought, and at the same time improve the public entrance. Mr. Miller referred to the fact that much had been said and written in the press to the effect that racing was not imperative during a war period. If racing were discontinued the breeding of horses would cease, and he considered that horses, in their particular sphere, were just as essential as men were in theirs. The curtailment of racing had meant a big struggle for some clubs, and he hoped that the war would soon be over and the meetings conducted at full strength. Mr. E. H. Lough (treasurer) said that the club had had a good year, but not as good as they would have liked. It would have been pleasant to have been able to contribute a large amount to the patriotic funds, but they were not in a position to do so, in view of the debt. It was, however, hoped to be able to give something next year. What could be done in that way would be done. Racing had contributed nearly half a million to the Government in taxation since the war broke out, and the Dunedin Jockey Club had paid this last year £6900 odd. That half million would not have been got by the Government if racing had been stopped, and he would remark that it was paid at once by persons who did not growl about paying. There had been a great deal of fuss about the amount of money invested on the totalisator, but those who complained seemed to forget that the money was merely circulated and not lost to the country. The motion was carried. Mr. P. Miller was declared re-elect-ed president, and Mr. L. C. Hazlett vice-president, there being no opposition for either office.

A ballot for the four places on the committee resulted in the election of Messrs. A. S. Orbell, J. Gow, T. Elliott and W. Gardiner. The other candidate was Mr. A. B. Armour.