CONTROL OF TROTTING

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25678, 15 December 1948, Page 4

CONTROL OF TROTTING

STIPENDIARY SYSTEM s MR MCKENZIE REPLIES TO MR MATSON “In his published statement, Mr A L. Matson (president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference) said he found himself in complete disagreement with the views expressed by me upon the stipendiary steward system of control of trotting,” said Mr J. R. McKenzie in a statement to ‘The Press” last evening. “After referring to the extensive powers which have been given to stipendiary stewards, I said that such almost dictatorship powers are only safely exercised when there are strong, wise and fearless men available. Mr Matson’s complete disagreement means that he disagrees with such a statement. I stand by it,” Mr McKenzie said. His criticism before the New Zealand Trotting Association was based upon several definite cases of what he felt was unsatisfactory control, the details of which had been given. “These are not answered by the president of the conference saying that he disagrees with my views. The president, myself and many others have Jong been working to improve the sport of trotting. We should not object to constructive criticism. Some criticism by the public recently nas been thorougnly justified. Much remains to be done in New Zealand to protect owners, horsemen and the public as regards control of the actual racing itself. “The president suggests I move a remit at the conference next year. He must surely know that the rules of trotting would not permit me to do so, so I chose my own course in the hope ;of getting improvement more quickly,” Mr McKenzie concluded.