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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 135, 14 July 1914, Page 6

In an interesting and comprehensive address to delegates this morning to the annual conference of representatives of New Zealand Trotting Clubs, the president, Mr John Howe, suggested that the'time was ripe for the appointment of stipendiary stewards. The need for paid officials has been urged periodically for some time past, and to us it appears that the trotting authorities would be well advised to give the scheme a trial. The stipendiaries who have been at work in Australia have, according to report, entirely justified their appoint-''

meut, and in a lesser degree,' the same can be said of the salaried observers who are doing duty in New Zealand at the present time. Given the right men, fearless, qualified by experience, and non-betting stipendiaries, the principle is a sound and workable one. There can be no doubt but that the presence of these officials at a race meeting has a moral effect of value on the hardbitten professionals who, for their pockets' good, are ever on the lookout for a chance to work a; coup. It is not conceivable that under any system crooked practices would beeirtirely eliminated, but it has been shown that the knowledge that the stipendiaries were on the watch has resulted ill these gentlemen thinking twice before attempting a "ramp." As with galloping, so with trotting—there is room for the paid officials, whose business it will be first to know the rules to the last subjection, and, secondly, to administer them when the occasion calls for it. Stipendiary stewards would prove of particular value qn racecourses where race clubs find it pays well to have a couple qf trots 011 the club's programme. The average race club steward has little, or "no definite knowledge of the regulations governing trotting, and if there were expert stipendiaries in existence these gentlemen would, by virtue of their official position and duties, save the race club's stewards a lot of trouble and anxiety. It is an incontestable fact also, that a large number of trotting club stewards, in the country especially, have but a slight knowledge of the rules. Here, again, the paid official would prove more than useful.