PAID STEWARDS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 957, 9 July 1908, Page 5

PAID STEWARDS.

The near approach of the annual Racing Conference draws attention to the business which that body proposes to deal with. There are quite a number of points of but little importance included, but the order paper does not, unfortunately, include the question of having stipendiary stewards. Much has appeared in these columns

and elsewhere on the subject, and one would have expected by now some move would be made in the matter, but members seem to prefer a taihoa policy. In an editorial on the subject, the “Australasian” says:— “ That the stipendiary steward system must be right in theory no one can deny. Who would advocate an honorary handicapper, an honorary judge, or an honorary starter in these advanced days ? Public opinion has forced racing clubs into selecting the best men available for the positions mentioned, and paying them a reasonable salary. Is the position of steward of .so little importance that any man elected to the committee is considered good enough to fill it ? We think that if racing is to be conducted to the satisfaction of owners, trainers, jockeys, and the public, the stewards should be men chosen for their fitness; as stewards. The reason for paying them, and paying them well, is manifest. They should see all the racing—not just the meetings they are interested in as committeemen, owners, or punters—and they should not bet nor have any interest in horses. It stands to reason that men who know the horses just as the judge does must have a far better chance of seeing what goes on in a race, than the casual amateur. There can be no two opinions about the value of the professional as against the honorary steward, and if members of committee do hold the opinion that any one of their number is good enough to be a steward, we can assure them that that is not outside opinion. The pony men were the first to test and prove the value of the starting-gate, and it has been left for Mr. John Wren to lead the way in Victoria as regards paid stewards. He is the sole proprietor of his courses, and he knows the value of securing the goodwill of his patrons. To do this he aims at keeping the racing as straight as it is possible to keep racing, and to ensure this he pays his stewards. He certainly gets good value for his money. The only other courses in Australia in which the paid stewards get full play is in West Australia. There they act on all the leading courses, and there is no appeal from their decisions. Perhaps this is going a little too far. On matters of fact they should be absolute judges, ■but there can be no harm in allowing an appeal where points of racing law are concerned.” Are we in the Dominion to be the last to adopt this wise course ?