WELLINGTON TROTTING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1482, 19 September 1918, Page 14

WELLINGTON TROTTING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the members of the Well ington Trotting Club was held at Petone last week, the president (Major A. M. Samuel) occupying the chair. The statement of accounts showed that the receipts amounted to £3899, which included a credit balance <>f £397 brought forward from the previous year, and the expenditure to £2707. The credit balance at the bank totalled £291, and a further £9OO was at fixed deposit. Tlie assets of the club were valued at £2239, ami there were no liabilities.

The chairman, who moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said that the popularity of the club’s trotting meeting was evidence of assured success for the club. With a clean sport, increased stakes, and further improvements to the buildings and

grounds, and tlie granting of extra permits to the club when allocations were made after the war, tiie club could confidently Impe to be classed in the near future as a metropolitan club. The totalisator turnover had increased by more than 200 per cent, since 1911, as the following figures showed: 1914, £6894; 1915, £8059; 1916, £1 2,222; 1917, £14,211; 1918,. £20,151. The new training track had proved a great benefit to owners and trainers. The club would continue its progressive policy. It was proposed to make additions to the totalisator house, and to effect various improvements to other buildings and to the track. The club was indebted to its patron, Mr. E. L. Riddiford, for his gift of a gold cup each year.

A letter was received from Major W. G. Ashworth, commanding tlie Sixth Mounted Rifles (Territorial Forces), enclosing an urgent appeal from Lieuten-ant-Colonel J. H. Whyte, D. 5.0., officer commanding Wellington Mounted Regiment, on active service in Palestine, for funds for the Sixth Squadron, which had been recruited from the district. It was decided to give £lO. The following stewards were elected: Messrs. H. E. Ryder, John Sharpe, R. H. Wilkie, J. E. August, J. T. Craig, AV. H. Edwards, E. A. King, O. H. I’pion, J. P. Gaynor, J. AV. Sharpe, J. E. Elvines, J. D. Marks, Dr. M. AA’. Ross, and Major A. M. Samuel. It was resolved to offer the catering on race day to the Red Cross authorities free of charge, the profits to go towards the fund. Recommendations were made to the incoming stewards to increase the stakes by £530, making the total stakes for the one day’s racing £1455.