WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1590, 14 October 1920, Page 17

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, was presided over by Mr. J- B. Harcourt, who in' the course of his address said. “It is with very great pleasure that we can again present to you a very satisfactory account of the past year s racing showing the continued progress of the club. Looking at the balance-sheet you' will see that, as compared with last year, m place of an overdraft of £1497 ss. 4d., we are now in credit to the extent of £29bV Ils./although z £13,197 12s. 6d. has, during the year, been spent on maintenance, repairs, and improvements, an increase of £9027 10s. 6d. over that of the previous year. The accumulated fund and net revenue- now stand, at £14,572 15s. 7d-, last year it was £13,700 18s. lOd. On the assets side sundry debtors are now only £1773 12s. lid. Last year this stood at £7403 16s. 3d-, and we have now a new item in our assets, viz., £6OOO on deposit. Stakes, etc., paid amounted to £30,888, as compared with £26,800 last year. Government taxation shows a very heavy increase, being no less than >£30,529 10s. 3d. The previous year ’it was £19,985 19s. 9d., certainly a very heavy increase, and a very small amount under the sum paid in stakes. Other principal increases are maintenance and repairs as mentioned before. Salaries are increased by only £lB4 10s. Id., general expenses are £l3lO Bs. 9d., as against £566 3s. 3d Other- increases are moderate, and do not call for special mention. Donations last year were £BO3 13s. 6d3 and this year only the sum of £2ib 16s. was spent under this heading, and was made up of small financial assistance given to kindred sports, including £lOO to the Olympia Fund, which no doubt will meet with the approval of members. On the credit side of the revenue account the totalisator returns are £57,411 10s., as against £42,918 9s. 3d., gates and railway £14,815 14S-. 5d., as against £7440 17s. 9d. These two items show a very satisfactory increase of £21,867 17s--5d Nominations and acceptances are £6828, as against £6OlB, an increase of £BlO. Members’ subscriptions show an increase of £3lb zs., and privileges and race books £249 Bs. ' The general result is that- the total receipts amount to the sum of £83,041 4s. Bd-, as compared with £59,703 18s. 6d., or a total increase for the year of £23,337 6s. 2d. accommodation to be INCREASED.

“The totalisator arrangements Have been much improved by the erection of a new up-to-date totalisator house, and the adoption of the electric machine, which has given every satisfaction, and is greatly appreciated by the patrons of the course. Since our last meeting the straight has been considerably lengthened, more lawn enclosure provided, and a space» for members reserved m the , bir ? ca S e - The stewards had hoped to begin the erection of new stands during the coming year and a considerable amount of material has been purchased, but owing to the action Of the Government in placing restrictions upon the construction of buildings not deemed essential no progress has been made. So soon as this restriction has been removed no time will be lost in giving to the public and members the increased accommodation so much required, and when the proposed new buildings are completed the accommodation provided will be second to none in New Zealand. However, the suggested increase of taxation on our income, amounting to probably Bs. 9d. in the pound, may somewhat delay the completion, as we must first accumulate funds for the purpose. CLUB’S NOTEWORTHY PROGRESS. “The progress of the club in the past has been most satisfactory, and that is shown by the fact that not many years ago our position among racing clubs was very low down, but the value of our races during the coming year will be second only to the Auckland Racing Club, the leading one of New Zealand. Our nomination fee is fixed at a 2os-, and the acceptance fees do not exceed 1 per cent, of the stakes. I understand that there is nothing to compare with this in England and nothing better in Australia. Every effort is made to provide first-class training tracks for * the use of which no fees are charged. Seeing the large and increasing popu lation of Wellington and district the number of race days allotted to us is very small compared'with other cen-

tres of New Zealand. We race on nine days only in the year, two of these days are on public holidays, four on Saturday afternoons, and three days only on ordinary business days. There is certainly room for more. We have fewer days than are granted to other clubs situated in less densely populated districts. We hope we may be granted a three days’ meeting in July when we hold our steeplechase meeting during Parliament session and when other conferences are held in Wellington. “In conclusion I must again, as on’ former occasions, express appreciation of the services rendered by the various members of the staff, and especially of the ability displayed by the secretary (Mr. A. E. Whyte) in his management of the affairs of the club.” Mr J. B. Harcourt was re-elected president, and the following were elected stewards:’:—Dr. H. J. McLean, Dr. H. A. H. Gilmer, Messrs. E. L. Riddiford, C. W. Chilman, K. D. Duncan, J. G. Duncan, W. Higgins, L. O. Watkins, V. Riddiford, and J. W. Abbott.