THE GAMBLING QUESTION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12937, 17 October 1907, Page 9

THE GAMBLING QUESTION.

*- PROPOSED ABOLITION OF THE DOUBLE TOTALISATOR. (special to "tub fbkss.") WELLINGTON, October 16. fn the Houso of Representativea, in replying to-day to Mr C. H. Poole'a question regarding the continued use by tho Wellington Racing Club of double totalisatore and the practice of receiving "outsido investments," the Premier eaid that the Bill dealing with gambling which provided for the stopping of the irso of double totalisation would be circulated next week. Mr Poole eaid that tho eooner the Bill wae passed tho better it would be for. the public It seemed that whilst a mail who received commissions at a tot© shop was hauled before the Court, n racing club could do the same tbing with impunity in another way. Ho referred to an advertisement which had been inserted by tho Wellington Racing Club in a Southern paper, and in which it ivae stated that money for investments on events at its meetings would bo received by telegram at itu office for investment Up to within an hour and a half of the time of the starting of a race. Tin's was nothing short of a tote shop. He had understood that it had been agreed by the wnreeentatives of racing clube some time ago to abolish the double totalieator. MrHerrics: Oh, no. Mr Poolo Raid that eomo clubs had nbolhhod tho double totalisator. It had come to hi* knowledge that hearing that the new Bill was not likely to pass this eeflson, tho Wellington Racliiff Cluh had decided to go tho whole hog and get all the monoy they could before "wo can Ret at them again ■' Sir Joßoph Ward aaid that the WeiHngttm Racing Club had no authority for assuming that the Bill wna nofc going to come up this year. Tho Government proposed to go (on with tho Bill, ami with tho assistance of membera, they hoped to put ifc through this session. It was proposed to abolish the double totalieator, and also to d«U with the matter of the transmission of telegrams referred to.