THE TOTALISATOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 214, 10 September 1928, Page 6

THE TOTALISATOR.

VI TRADESMAN'S POINT OF VIEW. (To the Editor.) I feel that the remarks of the president of the Hawke's Bay Trotting Club at it» annual meeting are worthy of consideration, because he is looking for more business for the totalizator instead of indicating some regard for the business people of this Dominion, who easily realise the approach of a race meetin* by the decline in business. The "tote" is £ constant source of worry, especially to small traders, who rely on cash to carry on, but Mr. Ebbett would have facilities granted to ensure that money could bp telegraphed to the courses, thereby cutting the ground from under the feet of the bookmakers. It seems to me that it would further assist to cut ground from under the feet of the butcher, baker, clothier etc. In fact, it would further assist in putting some off their feet altogether, while the bookmaker would be as handy as lie is at present. We are told in the address that bookmaker* are found in factories and freezing works. They should not succeed in the latter worksthey should get the "cold shoulder" in anr freezing plant instead of being v.armlv received. Mr. Ebbett complained about thenoisv I people with no inside knowledge of the position. How would it be to allow them t« i retain their outside knowledge, which is convincing enough? I wonder are those who return from the "tote"' without a shilling and with an empty stomach included among the number having "inside knowledge." Thev certainly should, for they could speak feelinglr. He further states that as long as human nature is what it is gambling and drinking will continue, inferring that the noisy ones should become as silent as the grave instead of putting forth every effort to improve human nature, and especially to cut out the huge expenditure on the totalisator year by year. XO XOISE.