TOTALISATOR v. BOOKMAKER.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14237, 28 December 1911, Page 8

TOTALISATOR v. BOOKMAKER.

VIEWS OF NEW SOUTH WALES

COMMISSION

(special to "the press.") AUCKLAND, December 27. Particularly interested visitors to yesterday's races at Ellerslic were the members of the New South Wales Totalisator Commission. The Commission consists of five members of the New South Wales State Parliament, and is to visit the various centres in New Zealand, gathering evidence relative to the totalisator, in view of tho agitation in favour of the establishment of the machine in the State which they represent. Mr R. H. Levien,'M.L.A., who is tho "father" of the Now South Wales State Parliament, having for 32 years represented Tamworth, had some interesting observations to make this morning when seen by a "Star" reporter. The Commission, said Mr Levien, was loud in its appreciation of tho all-round excellence of tho arrangements of yesterday. For such a large crowd they thought it remarkable that everything should have passed oif with absolute smoothness. The huge assemblage of over 30,000 people had been a revelation to them in tho matter of order, good nature, and behaviour. There was never any indication of excitement, no pushing, and no struggling. Particularly noticeable was the absence of that screeching which betokened tho operations of the bookmaker. Speaking for. himself, Mr Levien felt justified in saying that thero was not that inducement to bet where the ring was not inviting tho public to come forward and accept attractive odds. It seemed to him that tho presence of the totalisator was in this way preferable to the bookmaker, and tended to mako the racing more attractive. He had heard a fair number of people regretting that tho layers of odds were no longer permitted to operate, but in the course of his enquiries tho greater number appeared to prefer machine-betting. One thing which struck tho visitor from New South Wales particularly was the temperament of tie crowd at yesterday's Cup Meeting. "It was a strango thing to find 30,000 people so intently interested in such splendid racing, and yet to have no actual excitement," said Mr Levien. "In fact, in that respoct the crowd differed vastly from an Australian racecourse assemblage. Yesterday's gathering seemed deeply critically interested, but so utterly placid. WTiy, a crowd of that size in Sydney or Melbourne would get frightfully excited over such magnificent racing as wo had all day at Elierslie." Questioned regarding the activities of tho Commission, Mr Levien said that they were now going into the business which had brought them to New Zealand, and had* already taken a certain amount of evidence. A number of prominent peoplo had promised to come forward and give them the fullest particulars possible, and it was intended co ask one or two representatives of leading churches to give evidence. Tho Commission's- work was to enquire (1) whether the totalisator really increased gambling; (2) whether it provided a fairer means of betting for the public; (3) whether it is best that it should be under State control; and (4) whether tho means derived from it (it the machine be established) should be devoted purely to racing. Tho difficulty in Now South Wales, he added, was that there were a number of proprietary clubs, and tho extension of the totalisator to suoh courses was in itself a problem. The Commission will remain in Auckland until next week.