STIPENDIARY STEWARDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2673, 20 January 1916, Page 7

STIPENDIARY STEWARDS

FOR TROTTING QUESTION BEFORE GOfJFERENCE. At the last annual conference of delegates from the New Zealand Trotting Clubs the principle of employing stipendiary was approved, and a committee (consisting of members of the executive) was appointed to report upon tho matter. Tho report was duly drawn up, and was placed beforo delegates yesterday, when the president of the conferenco (llr. John Bowe, of Auckland) was in tho chair. The executive suggested the appointment of one permanent stipendiary steward, to be called the chief stipendiary steward, and deputy stewards when and where required. At present there are sixty days' trotting, spread over the season in such a manner that it' would be impossible for ouo stipend-, iary steward to personally attend all the meetings. At certain periods of the year, such as on Labour Day, and during the Christmas and Easter holidays, at least three stewards) would be required to cope with the work. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club employs two stipendiary stewards, and so as to offer it the same service as it now enjoys, it was proposed to appoint an assistant stipendiary steward for that club, aad also for tho Auckland Trotting Club and Porbury Park Trotting Club. These three clubs would therefore have the services of two stipendiary stewards. The chicf stipendiary steward would only bo engaged upon tho work under discussion l'or about fifty days per annum, to which must be added the time required for travel to and from tho various meetings; if ho decidcd to live at Christehurch, near to which a large proportion of the racing ia held, he could overtake at least , twenty days' trotting, and return home each night. The executive was of opinion that a salary o'f £400 per annum, with an allowance tor travelling and all other charges of £150, would be adequate to secure the services of a competent and reliable person to act as chief stipendiary steward. Assistant stewards to be paid £5 ss.' per diem, and deputy stewards to bo paid £10 _10s. per diem for actual days' trotting in addition to the payment. of their actual railway and boat fares, but to include hotel expenses. On this basis the total annual expenditure in connection, with tho scheme was estimated at £1035 10s. To meet this expense the executive'recommended an annual levy of,. say £1035 10s., to be paid as follows:'—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. (9 day's), £225: Auckland 'P. 0.. (7 days), £175; lorbury I Park T.C: (6 days), £150; New Brighton TiC., Otahuhu T.C., and Canterbury Park T.C. each £62105., £18710s.; Greymouth T.C., £50; Ashburton T.C., £30; "Wanganui T.C., Westport T.C., each £25, £50; 16 clubs (1 day each) at £10 10s., £IGB. Jt was further recommended that tho system should be controlled by a committee to be called tho Stipendiary Stewards' Committee, consisting of the executive appointed at each annual conference, the president of the association, and one member thereof, the president of the conference to be chairman of all meetings of the committee; four members to form a' quorum. The stipendiary stewards' committee should havo power to select and appoint , persons .as stipendiary stewards, one chief stipendiary steward, 'deputy 'stewards, and assistant stewards as may be required to act at. race meetings, and in the event of no stipendiary steward being ahle to attend any race meeting, a deputy stipendiary steward may bo appointed by the committee. Assistant stipendiary stewards should be selected and appointed to. assist the chief steward at the principal centres, and be under tho control of the chief stoward. In regard to the control of trotting events on race programmes, the executive reported that it was making representations to the president of the Racing Conference.

The president, in moving the adoption of the, report for a year's trial of the system, said thatHho executive had spent a considerable amount of time in drawing Tip its report, and ho hoped that the delegates present would on their part carefully consider the matter. He maintained that the sport had made such progress in the past few years that it had got beyond the control of the honorary stewards. The time was now ripe for the adoption of the stipendiary Mr. ]5. V. Sutherland (Otahuhu) seconded the motion for ,),ho adoption of tho report.

Sir Jamos Carroll (Poverty Bay) said fffiafc his . first instructions as a delegate had been to oppose the appointment of stipendiary stewards, but. he had made it a condition of his appearance at the meeting that he should bo riven a free hand. His club had accepted this condition, and he now had much pleasure in according his support who favoured the appointment. Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon (Inangahua) had two objections to offer to the scheme. The second, he admitted, was not of great importance. It was ono of finance. The main objection was that, ivhere a stipendiary stoward was appointed to control a country meeting,' where a body of stewards had already been entrusted with the control of trotting, tho appointment was a reflection ob. tliostj stewards. The invariable result would ho a loss of interest by those men, and that would bo a bad iliing for the sport. It would not be so serious if they had half a dozen experienced men to always fill Ihe positions, but the fact was that in muny eases a deputy bad to be appointed, 'and frequently this deputy was a man lacking in experience and tact. Mr. Fitzgibbon opposed the motion. Mr..Hodges (Forbury Park) also opposed the motion, and considerable discussion followed both for and against Lhe scheme.

On a vote Wing taken, the delegates in favour of the adoption of tlie report numbered 16, and tnoso against numbered 7„

l'ho question then arose as to whether a three-fourths majority was necessary 'to put the scheme into operation. Several delegates coatonded that it was an "ordinary" resolution, that it embodied, no "alterations to rules," and that it could therefore bo carried by a bare majority. Mr. I\ Selig moved, and it was agreed, time the opinion of the executive's legal adviser should bo taken oil the matter. Future action of tlic cxccutivo will depend on this.

TROTTING MEET]KG. The old racecourso at Low Hull, the scene of_ many good days' racing in thepast, will bo opened for sport again nn Friday, when tlie Wellington Trotting Club's Meeting is to be held. Very satisfactory acceptances liftve been received, including a number of prominent horses h'om various parts of the Dominion. Tlio new totalisntor will be under the management. of -Mr. W. G. Talbot, and every arrangement for the convcnienco of tho public has been made. The secretary of the club, Mr. _Jt. \V. Short, extends a cordial invitation to soldiers to be present. Trains wiJl lcavo Wellington at 10, 10.1"), 11.10, 12.10, 1.20. The first race is timed to start at 12.90.