RACING REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1496, 19 July 1912, Page 7

RACING REFORM.

PAID STEWARDS, APPROVED BY JOCKEY CLUBS SCHEME OUTLINEDAPPOINTMENTS TO BE MADE. "At each annual conference six persons shall he elected to constitute together with tho orcsident a committee, to be callcd"Thc Stipendiary Stewards' Committee,' which shall fc« elected, with power to select ami appoint not less than two persons to act as stipendiary stewards :it race meetings, on such terms, with such powers, an-cl subject to such conditions, as ihe committee may by laws or "regulations (which they are hereby authorised to make), proscribe. Such bylaws ■ and regulations shall, when signed by the chairman of the coinmittco, be transmitted to the secretary of the conference, and notified, and shall thereafter have equal forcu and. effect u -ns if they weru, by-laws • and regulations made by the conference ib-elf. The committee, of which tha president shall be chairman, may delegate to him all or any of tho powers of the committee, other than the power of appointing stipendiary stewards, ami the power of making, rescinding* or ' varying, by-laws and regulations (hereby conferred on the committee), and the chairman may exercise such delegated powers as if they were 'hereby conferred oil the chairman in the sumo manner as they are hereby conferred on the committee.. In the event of no stipendiary steward being able to attend any.race meeting, a . substitute stipendiary steward may bs appointed by the committee, or its chairman, to act at such raco meeting, ami in respect of such race meeting, shall be deemed for all purposes a stipendiary steward. The committee shall determine the remuneration to be paid to tho stipendiary stewards for their services, and the amount required for the purpose, and in order to earn- this rule into eifect, shall i:e provided by the totalisator clubs, by the payment of a> percentage not exceeding one-eighth per cent, of the gross amounts received by them respectively by way of investments on the totalisator during the preceding year, with regard, , ! so far as the committee may find . expedient, to nny change in tho number of days on which the totalisator / , is used , by any club in th« current' year The amount payable by each club shall be fixed by the committee, and be paid-to the secretary of the conference, who shall apply it as the - chairman- may from time to time direct." .' . .

The above is the text of an important resolution carried at the conference of New Zealand Jockey Clubs yesterday. The subject was introduced by Tho Hon. 0. Samuel (Taranaki), who said that niter many years' consideration he , could think oi ■nothing better than the . motion : before : the 'conference' to bring about tho necessary reform. It provi'l«d that in the'event of a permanent official'being unablo to be present at a race meeting, a substitute might ba appointed. The mover announce'd himself as strongly in , favour of the necessity of ostablish- . ing stipendiary stewards for the suppression of malpractice and the protection f those connected with racing. . ".',. Mr! Noian (Taranaki country). seconded tJib motion,! and hoped it would be carried, unanimously. , i Mr. Bidwill, Wellington (country), said that .since his visit to Australia a.couple of years ago, he had been maro than ever impressed with the necessity for tho 'appointment of stipendiary stewards. Ho. boped.it would be carried unanimously. Mr. \E.'E. Guinness (Canterbury counfavour of the movement, 6ui 'hoped that co'untry clubs, who did noi. benefit, by the appointments of the stew-raj-ds, .would not have to.-pay .(pc their support. ■' ■ '.. MiyS.. L. P. Free (Greyniouth) .expressed similar views. :...■' . :■ The., president did not agree that .country ',clul)s should be exempted from contributing, even though the stipendiary steward could riot attend their own" particular meetings. There could te no dojibt that these clubs would benefit from, •tho purification of the turf, but Mr. Samuel's proposal as first submitted left the financial aspect in a somewhat nebulous condition. Referring to the work of tho stewards, the president said their chief business would be to follow the running, from ono meeting to another and detect malpractices. The class of man required could not easily be obtained unless adequate muneration was offered. He must lie a ma.n if character, one that could be thoroughly trusted, one with an inner knowledge of racing, and generally possessing the very best qualities. Sir George estimated the cost of tho new schemo at .fioOO per annum. . As a method of raising this, ho suggested a levy of i per cent, on the club's totalisator receipts. On tho last year's figures this would have realised .£3002, Auckland paying JMS9, Canterbury X 365, Wellington Duncdin £lit), Wanganui £136, and other clubs smaller amounts. There was an alternative method which suggested itself. The jockeys' provident fund had a sum of ovet ,£12,000 on fixed deposit. Ho thought that was a sufficient reserve for all demands that were likely to arise, and it might be that, if the reserve were fixed at .£IO,OOO and maintained at that figure, tho balance of contributions, together with a levy of 1-16 per cont. on totalisator receipts might supply Hie necessary funds for payment of stipendiary stewards. Mr. O. C. Cooper (Wellington Country) supported the motion, but suggested that the mover should amend tlie motion, so , as , to make the maximum amount collected from any club -J- per,cent, of the totalisator revenue. . - Mr. E. Goodbehere (Wanganui Country) and Mr. A. W. Budge (Tarnnaki Country) also supported the proposal. Mr. G. Hunter (Hawkc's Bay) asked if the mover would be prepared to amend the motion in the direction of arranging a scheme of finance. The Hon. O. Samuel said he personally had no , objection. Mr. H. M. Speed (Wanganui) and Sir. M'Vay (Hawke's Bay) spoke in favour of the appointment of stipendiary stewards. Mr. 10. W. Alison (Auckland Country) expressed doubt as to whether the right men could be secured for tho position. The question of cost must oome into consideration and as a representative of country clubs he would like to have an assurance that the cost was not going to press too heavily. Though in favour of the appointment of stipendiary stewards he would, feel compelled to vote, against the proposal in its present form. Ml. K. D. Vavasour fMnrlborongh) wished to add an amendment that where a case was reported by, a stipendiary steward it should be dealt with by a judicial committee consisting of not less than three and not more than five stewards. The chairman ruled that such an amendment was not in order without notice of inotiou. Eventually the motion was amended to meet the necessary requirements as to finance and was carried in the above form amidst applause. The following were appointed members of the first Stipendiary Stewards' Committee: the Hon. W. H. Hprrios, JfoFsrs. H: Friedlander, P. Miller, fl. H. Nolan, E. B. Guiiines?, W. E. Bidwill and tho president. . The committee is to proceed to business right aivny and will hold its fir?t meetina this morning.