POOR MAN'S BETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 170, 20 July 1935, Page 11

POOR MAN'S BETS.

"MENACE TO RACING."

STARTING-PRICE SYSTEM.

SERIOUS PROBLEM IN N.S.W.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, July 10.

"If starting-price betting were to develop without check, in conjunction with radio, it would eventually kill racing." In these terms the Chief Secretary, Mr. Chaff ey, last week announced his views on the vexed question of starting-price gambling; and he followed it up with a statement that Cabinet will shortly consider the amendment of the law in this direction.

Naturally there is no definite information yet forthcoming as to the character of the proposed bill. But it i= understood that it will prohibit, during certain hours, the publication of racing information, including betting quotations. and also that it will attempt to curtail the powers and the opportunities of professional tipsters. It must be remembered that the State has no power to control the telephones and the telegraphic svstems, which are chiefly Instrumental in this form of betting. The Commonwealth authorities that administer these services have already been consulted, but till some definite understanding is reached with them, the State Government can do nothing decisive.

Racing Club's Difficulties. Meantime the chief secretary has been approached by sevoral racing organisations—notably the >.ew castle Jockey Club —pointing out that the widely diffused uso of telephone and radio for S.P. betting purposes is having a most serious affect upon the attendance and the receipts at their meetings, and a movement has been started in the city at Tattersall's to encourage the Government in the dcsiied direction. A great deal is being made of the awkward financial position in which the N.J.C. has been placed by the spread of S.P. betting, and it is contended that unless the Government will take action the club must close down. Another side to the question and it ha,s been put well and forcibly by the "Labour Daily." As regards the Newcastle Jockey Club this paper points out that before *1929 it was one of the most prosperous racing clubs in Australia and it argues that the financial collapse of racing in this is merely an effect of the depression, aggravated by the policy of wagecutting which the wealthy ironmasters and coal owners have carried out there. In Newcastle, as in all other large industrial centres, S.P. betting is the form of gambling that the poor man naturally follows — "it caters for the needs of thousands unable to attend racing fixtures"—and the "Labour Daily" holds that it can be and should be organised along legitimate lines to become a valuable adjunct of the sport.

Virtue —and Crime.Further, it warns the promoters of this movement against s.p. betting that they are playing a dangerous game and that the consequences may be disastrous to themselves. "The basis of the demand for repression is that the Government should legislate in such a manner that what is a virtue within a racecourse enclosure or exclusive betting club is a crime elsewhere." If the great racing clubs encourage the Government to undertake a crusade against s.p. gambling they will simply promote a far-reaching anti-gambling movement that may engulf them all.

No doubt there is mueh to be said for this view of the case. But the Chief Secretary ie well aware that the Premier and a large section of his most loyal and enthusiastic supporters are strongly opposed to gambling in every form, and if Mr. Stevens can point to a piecc cf legislation aimed dircctly at betting it will go a long way toward satisfying tho Anti-Gambling League, which will not discriminate very carefully between s.p. activities and the still legitimate operations of "the ring" at Randwick. Therefore it seems likely that, as soon as ever the Chief Secretary can settle his difficulties with the Federal Postal Department and "wireless," a bill will be brought down to penalise effectively the s.p. man and if possible to excommunicate him " with bell, book and candle" for ever.