CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

The honour of Honorary Life Membership of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club is not conferred lightly. Honorary Life Membership is granted in the main to Members of the Club, some of whom have given service to the Club, others to trotting generally, or are widows of deceased officers. From 1949 those who have been Members for 50 years of more are elected Honorary Life Members.

The first Life Member was Mr H Mace who was elected on 10th July, 1901.

It is reported that the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club did not approve of the Canterbury Trotting Club’s action in electing 13 of its Committeemen as Life Members of that Club, and this action further delayed the amalgamation of the two Clubs.

The membership records of the NZMTC show that some Members of the Canterbury Trotting Club who were Life Members at the time of amalgamation in 1901 became Life Members of the NZMTC and retained such membership until their death. Canterbury Trotting Club Life Members listed in the NZMTC’s first Membership records as Honorary Life Members were Messrs G Duke, G King, G McClatchy, H McIlraith, R Sunderland and Mrs E C J Stevens.

In November 1903 at a Special General Meeting of Members, a resolution was passed that Honorary Life Members be elected at the AGM and under the Rules of the Club, the name of a proposed Honorary Life Member must be submitted to and approved by the Committee of the Club before being submitted to the AGM.

The following were elected Honorary Life Members in the years shown and for the reason set out where obtainable.

Year Member Reason

1901 H Mace Services to Trotting and to the
Canterbury TC

W Tonks Services to the Club as a
Committeeman

1906 Mrs G H McHaffie Widow of deceased President

1908 T C M Rallinshaw Financial member ex the
Canterbury TC

Mrs T Marr Widow of deceased Treasurer

1910 Mrs G Payne Widow of deceased Vice-President

1912 Mrs W Tonks Widow of deceased Life Member and
Committeeman

Mrs J Harris Widow of deceased Treasurer

1914 H Reynolds Services to Trotting, in particular
to the development of his starting
machine and race starting generally

1915 G B Ritchie Services to the Club as Treasurer
and Vice-President

1921 J S Slade Services to the Club as
Committeeman and Steward and also
as a Committeeman of the Canterbury
TC

Mrs J S Williams Widow of deceased Treasurer

1922 E Clarkson

1924 Mrs C Louisson Widow of deceased President

Dr M G Louisson Son of deceased President

1934 A T Smith Services to the Club as a Steward

Mrs J S Slade Widow of deceased Committeeman,
Steward and Life Member

1936 W Hepworth

1937 W H Hollis Long Service to the Club

J Westerman Long Service to the Club

H F Nicoll Services to Trotting as President
of the NZ Trotting Conference

1940 Mrs J H Williams Widow of deceased President

F E Graham Services to the Club as Vice-
President and Treasurer

Hon. W Hayward Services to the Club as
Committeeman and Steward

1941 J S Berry Services to Trotting

E X Le Lievre Services to Trotting

1943 G W C Smithson Services to the Club as Treasurer
and Solicitor

1946 A L Matson Services to the Club on his
retirement as President

1949 J Way 50 Years Membership

1950 Sir John McKenzie Services to Trotting

G Rutherford Services to the Club

1952 C S Thomas Services to the Club on his
retirement as President

F R Leach 50 Years Membership

1956 Lady May McKenzie Widow of Sir John McKenzie
Life Member

C E Hoy Services to the Club on his
retirement as President

E F Nicoll Services to the Club as a
Committeeman and 44 Years Membership

C Lange 53 Years Membership

1958 Mrs A L Matson Services to the Club and widow of
a Life Member

1959 D Spence 50 Years Membership

1960 W M Ollivier Services to the Club on his
retirement as President

1963 D F Glanville Services as a Committeeman and
Steward since 1934

E E Luttrell 51 Years Membership

1965 J K Davidson Services to the Club on his
retirement as President

E Rutherford Services to the Club as a
Committeeman and Steward

1969 Mrs C S Thomas Services to the Club

1973 J L Holmes 50 years Membership

1974 G W Blaxall Services to the Club since 1953
and on his retirement as President

1975 C Dawson 50 Years Membership

1979 E T McDermott Services to the Club on his
retirement as President

Mrs L M Hoy Services to the Club, widow of
Past President

Mrs K M Saunders Services to the Club, widow of
Past President

D C Parker Services to the Club as an
employee from 1938 to 1979 on his
retirement as Secretary/ Manager

1981 H M S Dawson Services to the Club as a
Committeeman and to Addington
Raceway Ltd as a Director and
Chairman of Directors

1984 D E Dalzell Services to the Club on his
retirement as Treasurer

M L Taylor Services to the Club on his
retirement as President

1989 D R McCormick Services to the Club on his
retirement as President

T H Davis Services to the Club as an
employee from 1960 to 1989 on his
retirement as Secretary/ Manager



Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker