FEILDING JOCKEY CLUB.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 206, 31 July 1937, Page 4

FEILDING JOCKEY CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING

PROFIT FOR YEAR. The 58th annual meeting of the Feilding Jockey Club was presided over by Mr W. G. Fry, president, last evening, there being a good attendance. The report (previously published) and A the balance-sheet, which revealed a profit of £474 12s lid on the year’s working, were adopted. Speaking to the report, Mr Fry traced the club’s progress during the year and stated that the totahsator turnover for the year iiad been £83,000. Stakes paid by the club had been increased by £941 10s, while the profits had enabled the club to carry out permanent improvements to the property. | Over £SOOO had been paid out in stakes. Regarding taxation, Mr Fry said that it continued to absorb an appreciable portion of the club’s finance, and ciurlnsi the year the Government had collected no less than £7303 4s 9d. Repairs and maintenance costs had also increased. wages being one of the major items of expenditure. Mr Fry said that additional windows had been installed in the totalisator house to expedite business. Depreciation had been a lowed for in the balance-sheet at £2134. Regarding the overdraft at the bank,

the speaker said that it had been substantially reduced and at present the club’s overdraft account stood at £2626. He hoped that next year the overdraft would be a thing of the past. Ho urged that the club should get rid of its liabilities as quickly as possible as • later it would be faced with the need for rebuilding, and then it would be necessary to borrow money. He would like to sec the club have a clean sheet before any major work of the nature referred to was entered upon. Reverting to the profit made, the president said that although it was not a large amount it was on the right side of the ledger and the club should be thankful for that. A dividend barometer had been installed and that facility had been a success and had been widely appreciated by the public, as had also been the improvements to the automatic ■ totalisator, which had enabled the staff to handle the increased turnover expeditiously. The president said that eight new members had been enrolled and he hoped that that number would be increased. Mr Fry then moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The motion was seconded by Mr R. J. Harper, who expressed his pleasure in noting the splendid financial position of the club. He said that an appreciable improvement had been made during the year and added: “I think we are definitely round the corner.” ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted:—President, Mr R. J. Harper; vicepresident, Mr E. Goodbehere; hon. treasurer, Mr W. J. Shannon; committee, Messrs L. T. McLean, E. A. Twigg, N. J. Short and E. H. Brewer; auditor, Mr A. H. Maguire. Before vacating the chair, Mr Fry said that ho had pleasure in handing over control to Mr Harper, who had been a steward of the club for over half a century and had earned his appointment as president. He had very rarely been absent from a meeting and Mr Fry extended to him his heartiest congratulations. Replying, Mr Harper expressed thanks for the honour conferred upon him in electing him unopposed. He felt that he had a hard task in front of him to live up to the high standard set by Mr Fry, who had a very clear understanding of the club’s affairs. MiFry had the confidence and support of all the members. Mr Harper said that, as president, he would do his best to maintain the traditions of the club and to guide it on safe lines. Mr Goodbehere also expressed thanks for his election as vice-president. He said that he had been secretary of the club for 37 years and was the oldest member. He recalled his early association with the club and stated that in its earlier history betting was not done in 10s, as was the case to-day, but in £lO. £2O, and £SO bets. Members of the committee also returned thanks. TRIBUTE TO MR FRY.

Mr John Graham moved a resolution that the services of the retiring president and the appreciation of the club be recorded. He said that Mr Fry had a thorough grip of the club’s affairs and that he had put more work into his job than most members realised. He had shouldered his responsibilities in a most conscientious manner and was deserving of the club’s sincerest thanks. Nothing had been too much trouble to him and he had often spent valuable time in the interests of the club.

Messrs L. T. McLean,' L. Gorton, and several cither speakers supported the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Mr Christian congratulated the retiring president and the secretary and staff on the able manner in which the race meetings had been conducted. In his varied experience lie could not think of any club which could come up to the standard of efficiency shown by the secretarial staff. GENERAL.

Air W. A. Sandilands said that care should be taking in the granting of tickets to the stewards’ stand. He instanced cases in which non-members, living locally, gained admission year after year to the stand.

Air Twigg said that it was difficult to prevent a certain amount of leakage, and it was hard to. refuse a member permission to take a friend on to the stand.

A lengthy discussion took place regarding complimentary tickets. Mr Brewer introduced the discussion, stating that he knew of people in outside districts who had been refused tickets.

Air Fry said that in all cases of a genuine nature and where the requests were reasonable complimentary tickets were issued, hut the committei set up to deal with the applications.

which ran into thousands, had to exercise care.

Mr Graham assured Mr Brewer that all applications were treated on their merits, and where the applications were considered to be genuine and reasonable the tickets were supplied.

Votes of thanks for services rendered were accorded the secretary (Mr Goodbehere) and his staff, the. Press, the caretaker (Mr Branney), Mr Southey Fowler and Mr Bagnall. Referring to the work of the caretaker, Mr Fry praised his energetic efforts to maintain the grounds and lawns in splendid condition. He had worked very hard to ensure that the gardens were a blaze of colour for the club’s meetings, and it was not an easy job. A tribute was also made by the speaker to the work of the secretary, whom he de-. scribed as “the man behind ,the scenes.” He was deserving- of the club’s gratitude for the smooth running of its affairs and the handling of a large staff on race days. Musical honours were accorded the retiring president and the secretary, members being enthusiastically in accord with the remarks made regarding them.