TOTALISATOR TROUBLES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9117, 30 May 1895, Page 2

TOTALISATOR TROUBLES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Two very important noticas are published in the South Australian R.icing Calendar this month, says the Adelaide Observer. They deal with the new phase of the betting question known as " totalisation commission" wagering, and if carried into effect they will practically kill the business of the metallician on the racecourse. Since the police suppressed public betting the members of the Ring have been in the habit of laying totalisator odds up to 10 to 1. That is. they have received money from the public for investment in the machine, and they have repaid the backer of the successful horse the totalisator dividend up to £10. Tho Racing Clubs have regarded this action as interfering with the totalisator revenue, and threats have been issued from time to time with a view of stopping the Rine from taking money from the public. The Port Club were the first to move in the matter, but for some reason or other they did not test the question, and it has remained for the South Australian Jockey Club to lead the way in a practical manner. The committee of the premier institution, to give effect to what they propose, have made amendments to their racinss rules and by-laws. Racing Rule No. 120 at present gives the stewards power to exclude and eject from all places under their control (this, of course, includes the racecourse) persons who are guilty of certain offences set out in subsections. They have now added to this rule the following paragraph:—" Every person who is liable .to expulsion or removal under any of the rules or by-laws of the South Australian Jockey Club, or any registered club, or under any resolution of the committee or stewards of the South Australian Jockey Club, or any registered club, whether such resolution apply to general classes of persons or offences, or to particular persons or offences." By-law No. 10 of the S.A.J.C. reads as follows ;— "Any person committing on the said racecourse, or in any of the buildings or erections for tho time being thereon, any of the following offences shall be removed from such racecourse, notwithstanding such persons may be a member of tbe club, or may have purchased and is or may be in poisession of a ticket of admission." The offences to the number of eight are then enumerated, but the S. A. J. C. have added two more, and these contain the kernel of the situation. They read :—" (9) Betting or wagering or offering to bet or wager otherwise than by means of the club's totalisator machine. (10) Without the authority of the com- : mittee receiving or offering to receive money from any other person to invest in the totalisator machine, or acting or pretending to act as an agent for any other person to make investments in the totalisator machine." Boiled down these amendments virtually mean that the bookmakers are not to receive money for investment in the totalisator. Whether the police or the S.A.J.C. will actively interest themselves ia ejecting metallicians who may feel disposed to continue receiving money for investment in the machine we do not know, and we do not care to express an opinion on the legal parb of the question. The Ring, who have organised an Association of their own, will doubtlea, secure the best advice as to what is their position. .If sab-section 10is carried out in it. strict entirety no one on the racecourse can place money in the totalisator for a friend without running the risk of incurring the club's interference. Of ciurse this is not what is really meant by the amendment, bat that is how it may be literally construed. We understand that the committee of tbe S.A.J.C. are not actuated by any feeling of hostility to the Ring, but they feel that it is absolutely incumbent upon them to take decisive action in the interests of the sport. At the present time defaulters are to be seen in oar Grand Stand enclosures betting "totalisator commissions," and as without authority to interfere this undesirable class would quickly increase in numbers the committee have been compelled to step In. It will be noted that in the new sab-section 10 tbe words are inserted, "without the j authority of the committee." The S.A.J.C. therefore retain the right, we presume, to license the legitimate and reliable class of bookmakers to receive totalisator commissions. We do not say that they wil<* '

exercise this preroßaltve, but tha point may ba worthy of thalr oonsidoratlon. Tho Ring, without a doubt, add materially to the success of a big meeting such as the S.A.J.C., A.R.0., or Onkaparinga, by the wagering they proseoute before the fixtures take placo, and the clubs in their own interests can hardly fall to recognise this aspect of ths question.