TO PURIFY SPORT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 875, 22 July 1910, Page 5

TO PURIFY SPORT.

A-SCHEME DjISCUSSEO. . AND POSTPONED. At the New Zealand Racing Conferenca yesterday, Mr. R. H. Nolan (Taranaki) moved, on behalf of a special committee of the conference, to make the following new rule;— Stipendiary stewards shall be appointed by the New Zealand Racing Conference, or by the committee thereof nominated for that purpose, and with such powers and subject to suen regulations as may, from time to time, be conferred or approved by the con- . ference. The mover quoted an Australian racing authority, as saying to him that, when the old women" who were responsible for all the agitation, had abolished tha bookmaker, they would try to abolish the totalisaior, but, if the clubs had stipendiary stewards,- people would see they were trying to purify tho sport. In ' the opinion, the totalisator was bound up with the interests of racin tr # and everything they could do to save the :j totalisator should be done. The ap- '? pointment of stipendiary stewards was • / such a measure. The expenses would be ! covered by 8 per cent, of the totalisator 'i( revenue. Stipendiary stewards" were em. V ployed with success throughout Australia 1 and in India, and elsewhere. They were experts, whereas the general run of • . stewards, though absolutely honest, were not competent. t _ Mr. E. Gooclbehere (Feilding), second- • [ ing the motion, reminded members that i the conference had previously expressed ! its approval of the principle involvei Mr. D. Buick, M.P., in supporting the • motion, said that the presence of a ; stipendiary steward would have* a whole« soino effcct, even if he was not reouired . to take any overt action. The difficulty would be to find a suitable man, but hi thought that could be managed. Mr.- H. D. Vavasour. (North -Canterbury), while approving of the principle under discussion, foresaw difficulties through the occurrence of several meetings on one day. It would mean a large expenditure, as probably a dozen stipendiary stewards would be required. Sir G. MTjean (Dunedin) moved, an.. , amendment to postpone the whole ques- • tion until the next meeting. It -might be necessary for the clubs to reduce their expenditure shortly. Further, there" I would be the less need for stipendiary, stewards when tho bookmakers" were /' "abolished, and he thought that it would • be unwise for the conference to frame 1 any fresh legislation at the present juncture. j The amendment was then seconded bj Mr. Vavasour. The Hon. (X Samuel, M.L.C., while endorsing the principle of appointing stipen--* diary stewards, said the proposed regulations did not overcome tho difficulties Jle supported the amendment, on th< v ground that further information was required before action. Mr. W. E. Bidwill (Wellington Country % . Clubs) disagreed with the suggestion that stipendiary stewards would be less necessary when bookmakers were kept off the course. There were men in whon; the conference would feel perfect confi. donee as a committee to appoint stipendiary, stewards. Even if they only ap- • pointed one at present, good would be done. He could go to meetings when he thought his presence would be useful, .? and where horses concerning which he -w-' 1 had suspicions were to run. The 6ystem of stipendiary stewards had- worked very satisfactorily in Australia. Mr. Hunter Bay) said tho motion should be deferred at least until after the present session of Parliament. The amendment (to postpone the matter) was carried by 22 to 18.