STIPENDIARY STEWARDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5803, 22 February 1897, Page 4

STIPENDIARY STEWARDS.

• [" Canterbury Times."] The remarks which appeared recently in this paper with reference to the, duties of/ stewards naturally lead up to the question 1 of stipendiary stewards. It will,. doubtless, be remembered that the appointment of stipendiary stewards, in connection with racing, has repeatedly been urged in these columns, and after the incidents which 1 have recently given rise to so much discussion in trotting circles, the suggestion may be applied to the sister sport. In England stipendiary stewards are not necessary because the stewards of the Jockey Club, the majority of whom are wealthy men with plenty of leisure, do the work. Two or three of them attend the various race meetings in turn and act as stewards of the meeting. If they themselves cannot be present they appoint as substitutes men of integrity who possess a thorough knowledge of the intricacies of racing. Something of a similar character is done in America, but in Australia this is not feasible, and this is why in Victoria a stipendiary steward was appointed. A person to fill the position of stipendiary steward efficiently must be peculiarly constituted. He must be a man of extraordinarily keen perception, of nerve of courage to support his own opinions, and last, but. not least, he must be prepared and able to take up a position and hold it in the face of strong opposition and torrents of abuse. Perhaps for the reason that such a man was not easily procurable, the work done by the stipendiary stewards in Victoria was not so complete as it might have been. Nevertheless good work was done, and it is admitted that the Victorian Turf was purified in a very marked degree. Of course, it would be impossible in a comparatively small racing community like Canterbury to expend any considerable sum to secure the sole services . of a stipendiary steward. A really efficient man would require a much larger salary than it would be possible to pay him, and unless a fit and proper person were secured it would be better to leave matters undisturbed. But it might be possible to subsidise one, or perhaps two, or even three men, who could take it in turns to attend ', the various race meetings. Perhaps, even, the Trotting Association could combine with the Canterbury Jockey Club and appoint one man for both trotting and racing. These, however, are questions of detail. What is required is that the matter of appointing some sort of supervising steward should be considered by the authorities.