MARTON JOCKEY CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1519, 5 June 1919, Page 8

MARTON JOCKEY CLUB.

ANNUAL REPORT. : The annual meeting of the members of the Marton Jockey Club was well attended, and the chairman, Mr. R. E. Beckett, presented the following report on behalf of the committee: — Your committee have again the pleasure of presenting a most satisfactory balance sheet for the year ending March 31, 1919. The War Regulations again curtailed their operations, but both the spring and summer meetings were most satisfactory, resulting in substantial balances, which have allowed them to proceed with the alterations, etc., outlined at last annual meeting. By the balance sheet it will be seen that £lOl6 has been expended in acquiring land, and a further surii of £1875 is still owing on mortgage. This will give all the land required for laying out what they venture to think will be one of the best courses in the Dominion. During the past months £498 has been spent in forming the new track, and nearly £4OO has been given away for patriotic purposes. A contract has been let for the erection of 44 loose-boxes, feed rooms, etc., on Marton racecourse for the convenience of visiting owners

and trainers, and it is probable that an accommodation house will be erected before the spring meeting. An up-to-date jockey’s board is also under construction. Mr. R. Aidworth retires from the position of president, Messrs. D. G. Riddiford, S. Skerman, T. Bennett, and R. E. Beckett as vice-presidents, Mr. D. G. Riddiford as treasurer, Mr. Arthur Way as secretary, and Messrs. S. J. Gibbons, F. L. Young, I. Jefferson and F. R. H. Brice retire by rotation from the committee, and, being eligible, all the above-named officers offer themselves for re-election. Your committee particularly desire to tender their most hearty thanks to all holding honorary positions, who so efficiently carried out their duties during the past 12 months. The annual balance sheet disclosed a highly satisfactory state of affairs, the bank balance for the period ending March 31, 1919, being £5BB 4s. 6d. The profit and loss account showed that after allowing for depreciation (£684 7s. 9d.), the profit for the year’s racing amounted to £298 16s. lid., details being as follows: — Stakes £3275, salaries and wages £670 135.. Government tax £3136 Bs. 6d , amusements tax £9B 145., bank charges and interest £l4 155., purchase of land £lOl6 Bs. 2d., purchase of plant £33 6s. 9d., stamps, tele-

phones and telegrams £4l 10s. lid., > labour and maintenance £294 6s. 7d., , insurance £3B 14s. 4d., luncheons and refreshments £94 145., donations to war funds £397 55., rates and taxes £32 9s. 10d., music and rent £4O, forming new course £498 11s., print- - 4ng and advertising £226 Ils. 3d., New Zealand Racing Conference £57 Ils. 7*d.,’ charges and sundries £162 14s. jjlOd.,."depreciation £684 7s. 9d.; total, £f0,814 2s. 6d. : Totalisator £7233 17s. Id., gates ££537'185., entries £lOB4 10s., members’' subscriptions £lO3 55., training permits. £25, grazing fees £7l 10s., privileges £322 145., sundries £136 Ils.- 6d., ’ balance March 31, 1919, £298 16 s/ lid.; total, £10,814 2s. 6d. . V ... BALANCE SHEET. Asspts—Land £4508 7s. 4d., buildings and. improvements £6403 11s. (less 10 per cent, depreciation, £640 6s. —£5763 55.), plant account £407 45., additions £33 6s. 9d—£44o 10s. 9d. (less 10 "per cent, depreciation, £44 Is. 9d:) £396 ■ 95., sundry debtors £5O 10s,, bank, balance March 31, 1919, £1039 ss. 4d.; total, £11,757 16s. Bd. Liabilities — Mortgage on land £1875, balance of assets over liabilities £9882 16s. Bd.; total. £11,757 16s. Bd. In moving the adoption of the annual report, the chairman referred to the success of the past year. Although one day had been taken away they had been in a position to expend £2394 16s. 9d. Over £lOOO had been expended in land. They had finished up with £452* to the good, and had improved on the season by £2OOO. This was particularly satisfactory.

He explained the position in regard to the erection of 44 loose-boxes and provision for an accommodation house, and stated that satisfactory arrangements had been made for the completion of these for the next meeting. Mr. F. R. H. Brice seconded the adoption of the report, which was carried unanimously. The meeting agreed to the adoption of additional amendments to the Gaming Act. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Election of officers resulted in the unanimous re-election of the following:—President, R. Aidworth,. Esq.; vice-presidents, Messrs. R. E. Beckett D. G. Riddiford, and Drs. Bennett and Skerman; honorary treasurer, Mr. D. G. Riddiford; secretary, Mr. Arthur Way; hon. judge, Mr. R. H. Aidworth; handicapper, Mr. H. Coyle; starters, Messrs. C. O’Connor and A. Keith; clerk of course, Mr. W. E. Gibbons; hon. clerk of scales, Mr. F. L. Young; assistant, Mr. J. H. C. Broad; hon. timekeeper, Mr. R. F. Wood. The ballot for committeemen and stewards resulted: —Messrs. F. R. H. Brice, I. Jefferson, F. L. Young (retiring members) and J. Brice. The chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. S. J. Gibbons, a retiring committeeman, who had been a most useful man.