THE BOOKMAKER.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 151, 28 June 1929, Page 6

THE BOOKMAKER.

Those who have read the recent fulminations of the Rev. J. J. North against bookmakers will have done so with mixed sensations of anger, amusement and pity. Mi. North's remarks show that he possesses only a modicum of knowledge of the vocation he assails. To begin with, the law prohibiting bookmakers, so far as the writer can discover is peculiar to New Zealand. In _a o civilised countries the bodies controlling racm and betting operations iicensc boolunakeis. t follow their calling. The reverend S en £™ apparently does not know the reason foi the ban upon bookmakers in New Zeaknd- It that their operations inter ere with tne totalisator investments to the detriment; of e numerous club's finances and in a m , the revenue of the State, for, bookmakers not withstanding, many hundreds of thonsan< pounds per annum go to the State 1 <? and other racing taxation. Indirectjythe horse owners suffer, in that stakes areallotted upon the totalisator returns. made through the bookmaker decrease the amount, collected through the totalisator lieiice s Mller stakes are at the club's disposal fo ompet tion among the horse owners: The > nter is not advocating the bookmaker, being satisfied + o talisator. it fairness and advantages o o ti, o rl of betting' they, and many with thrn,.con temcnt SSVt" 5."2* a-w that they aie a c au o ~ 1 lgo desires tho law. The reverend jis to destroy the very foundation Q lihci namely, the system of trial b) of hope mtrodueed in Allerton and Churches by the A. Kussei G. Gordon Bell has sonic colour ot tne „ jf of brotherhood and tolerance.