Totalisator Versus Cash Fielders.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 6 January 1887, Page 3

Totalisator Versus Cash Fielders.

(To tho Editor.)

Sin, —Tho arbitrary and one-sided way in which the Auckland Racing Club havo acted in carrying out tho resolution passed by their Committoo and advertised in tho press, rolating to cash batting, etc., does littlo credit to that honourable body, Had thoy strictly and without favour carried out thoir resolution, nol only tho small cash fielders (who I am sure are very harmloss, should havo beon stopped, but tho lock should havo been placed on that gigantic cash - betting machine, tho totalisator, which has, during this summer meeting, swallowed up over £3,000 in psreontago, besides all fractional parts of a shilling on each dividend paid out. I should bo giad to know why tho totalisator should be allowed to receive cash, give tickots and charge ten por cent.— mind 10 por cent., and all fractional parts of a shilling, whilst a harmless cash fuller is pounced upon by tho police for laying tho odds to 2s ('d or 5_ If betting in any way is detrimental to tho peace and well-being of, tho publio generally either through the totalisator, club, bookmaker or cash holder, let tho whole of them bo wiped off the calendar of current events, co that tho Government of this country may not bo charged with making laws whereby tho rich and influential can break them with impunity and without interforenco ; w hilo, on the othor hand, tho poor class shall, upon tho slightest infringement of such laws, be severely tloalt with, j —I am, Sec, New Chum, |

Kelativo to tho totalisator, Mr W. Jowott, of Christchurcb, writes: "Tho deduction of 10 per cent, on money which is passed through the machine seven times during tho day is monstrous, the perconiago being really 70 por cent. Tho reason of £1 lis being accepted by many pooplo on Waitiri in the Victoria Handicap instead of £1 13s was simply beeaitso tho publio aro kept in total darknoss aa to tlio total on each machine, thoso out sido tbo saddling pud dock being unable to eeo tho totals on tho inside machine. In any other province where they have an ouf.-ide and an insido totalisator, tho dividends aro made up separately and paid accordingly."