AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1476, 8 August 1918, Page 12

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Auckland Racing Club was held at the Chamber of Commerce oh Monday and was attended by about eighty of the members, the Hon. E. Mitchelson presiding. The report and bal-ance-sheet, already published, was read, the chairman thus addressing those present: — “At the conclusion of another successful racing year, I have,, in moving the adoption of the report arid balancesheet, to again congratulate members upon the result of the year’s operations, which, after having made liberal allowances for depreciation and all dead work, resulted in a net profit of £5981. This sum has been carried to the credit of capital account, which now stands at £54,489.

“Our road rates are increasing, and, after the war is over, your committee will have to seriously consider the advisability of disposing of some of the club’s frontages and surplus lands, otherwise the Ellerslie properties, being now within the borders of the city, our land tax and road rates will increase proportionately with the growth of population, and increase in land values.

“So far we have only paid one year’s income tax —this in consequence of the very strong protest that has been made to the Government against the imposition of this dual tax on racing clubs who are already subjected to a very heavy special tax, as the figures that I have quoted will abundantly show. They look upon the attempt to compel the payment of income tax in addition to the special tax as an attempt to penalise racing clubs, who without this extra tax are already contributing largely to the revenue of the Dominion. The question is at present in abeyance, pending a decision being given on the test case which is now under consideration, and if such is against racing clubs and in favour of the payment of income tax, this club may have to pay a further sum of £2OOO or more. “In addition to our having subscribed liberally to all patriotic funds, we have invested in War Bonds to the value of £20,000, and as another loan is to be issued at the end of the present year, we must be prepared to invest further sums in the same direction, as money must be found to continue the war until it has been brought to a successful conclusion. “Since our last meeting additional land has been secured, both on the north and south sides of our property, where the works now in progress, when completed, will provide largely increased accommodation and add considerably to Ellerslie’s beautiful surroundings. The work, not being of an urgent character, is being proceeded with slowly by day labour, and

it will probably take fully two years or more before the contemplated improvements will be completed. “The racing throughout the year has been of an interesting character, and every effort is being made by your committee to popularise the sport and rid the turf of that undesirable element which in the past did so much to bring racing into disrepute. “Your committee hope to have the new totalisator installed in the old building and working at the spring meeting. Similar machines now working at Randwick are said to give every satisfaction to the investing public —easy and reliable and quick in their working. “A new totalisator house, to be erected along the boundary between the two enclosures, cannot, owing to the cost, be undertaken until after the war. “We have during the year lost the services of the late Mr. Murdoch McLean, who served both as a committeeman and a steward for many years, also our late popular and energetic secretary, Mr. J. F. Hartland. I propose, with your consent, to forward from this meeting of members of the club letters of condolence to each of their families.” Mr. Mitchelson moved the adoption of the report, which was carried unanimously. The chairman then said that owing to the action of the Government in curtailing racing throughout the Dominion, the number of days’ racing at Ellerslie was reduced from eleven to eight, and notwithstanding the refusal of the railway authorities to run race trains for the convenience of a large

section of the public, the attendances at the three meetings were up to the usual average. “One can hardly realise,” he continued, “that so easily earned revenue as that derived from race traffic should be so persistently ignored by the Government purely for sentimental reasons, and which results in endless inconvenience to the public; more especially does this foolish policy seem harsh when one considers that since the commencement of the war the Government must have derived from all sources connected with racing throughout the Dominion a sum not far short of three-quarters of a million of money. “The Auckland Racing Club alone during the past racing year has contributed to the revenue of the Dominion from totalisator and dividend tax £25,338, and from land tax £BB8 —a total of £26,226, and for the period of the war (four years) has contributed by way of totalisator and dividend tax £92,170, land tax £2874, amusement tax £899, and income tax for one year only £463, making a total of £96,406 collected and paid into the public account without any cost to the State. During the same period we paid in local taxation £3148, making a total of £99,554 paid away in four years, which in round figures makes a yearly average of just on £25,000, a very large sum to be contributed by one club.” Mr. W. J. Ralph then rose and said that a very pleasing duty had been conferred upon him. He had been entrusted with the responsibility of making a presentation from the members to their worthy president of an artistic painting of himself from a very live photo., and one that does justice to the subject and to the man who had handled the artistic brush. It was that of an esteemed citizen who had held many of the highest political and civic positions in this beautiful Dominion. Mr. Ralph enumerated the long list and, continuing, said: “Now gentlemen, we must all

recognise that the 'filling of these responsible positions required a great amount of ability. In native matters alone there was so much that puzzled the statesmen of this country, who found it difficult to inculcate into the minds of the natives that our people had no idea of doing them an injustice in the acquiring of their lands. It took much effort on our part to make them understand. In the face of many difficulties the Land for Settlement legislation had been passed, and it was due to the personal effort of their president, when in Parliament, that the country in the wonderful thermal districts of Rotorua had been dealt with so satisfactorily. He was sure that it was the wish of members that Mr. Mitchelson, who had been president for 17 years, might be spared to them for another 17 years. From the time he had become steward in 1881 until he had been made their president, he had proved himself deserving of the highest honours. What had been the result of his labours? At Ellerslie there was a world of ’flowers and foliage, and the finest of racing tracks had been made during his term of presidency. Ellerslie had had another name —it was known to the natives as Waiatarua. The late Mr. George Brown, native interpreter, who had no superiors, had explained to him that it was a meeting place of the natives before the white people came to these parts. They met there in harmony. The meaning of the name was “two songs.” The same harmony that existed amongst the natives then existed amongst those associated with Ellerslie now, and he hoped there would never be any rift in the lute at that beautiful spot. There in everything that had been done, as in racing, a high standard had been set. Most of the suspicions associated -with the sport had been removed. Much had been done by their president, with his garden party invitation to start with, in that direction, and their many acts of patriotism showed that the club was worked on broad lines. Mr. Ralph then unveiled the painting and again expressed the pleasure it gave him in making the presentation, concluding with a tribute of praise to the work of Mr. R. Proctor, the artist, who was now master of the School of Arts in Auckland, and who had held a similar position in the Art Gallery in Christchurch. Mr. Ralph resumed his seat amidst hearty applause. The Hon. E. W. Alison followed, expressing his pleasure in being able to participate with members in paying such a tribute of appreciation to one they had known so long and so well and who was so worthy of it. The pose in the picture was admirable, and it was indeed a speaking likeness. After referring to the good works of the club, the acquirement of property contiguous to the course, the schemes of beautification carried out and to be added to to in the near future, Mr. Alison said he would not be going too far in saying that it was not excelled in Australasia and was a great asset for a splendid city. We all recognised that much of the credit of making it so rested with the notable politician and citizen, their president. The painting would be another lasting memorial of the respect and goodwill of the members for-his future happiness and welfare. Mr. E. W. Alison, jun., the youngest member of the committee elected twelve months ago, spoke of the liberal and progressive policy of the A.R.C., and some of the leading racecourses he had seen in England and America, declaring Ellerslie to be one of the finest in the world, and. concluded by paying a high tribute to the president, whom he regarded as the most able of chairmen. In acknowledging the kindly words that had been spoken and the valuable presentation, Mr. Mitchelson said that he could not have done what

he had without the unanimity of the committee and members. His endeavour had been to make Ellerslie what it was. It had long been spoken of as one of the most beautiful spots —one of the finest of breathing places —and it was only a matter of time when greater things would be accomplished there. They had in their caretaker, Mr. Albert Hill, a most energetic and capable worker, and they had increased his salary, given him a bonus, and provided him with a more up-to-date house than formerly. Having paid this tribute to Mr. Hill, Mr. Mitchelson said that it was his wish that the members should say what was to be done with the painting since he had no suitable place for it in his home. A few of the members, in response to the request of the Hon. Mr. Alison for an expression of opinion, declared for Ellerslie, but Mr. Alison suggested the Auckland Art Gallery, and that view was accepted practically unanimously on being put to the meeting. The Hon. E. Mitchelson and Mr. H. T. Gorrie, the only nomineess for the offices of president and vice-president, respectively, were declared duly elected.

An election to appoint five committeemen .. and three stewards resulted as follows: —Committeemen: Messrs. 8. Bradley, H. O. Nolan, O. Nicholson, F. Earl, M. M. McCallum. Stewards: Messrs. J. D. Jones, G. A. Wynyard, Sir R.. Lockhart.