Evidence.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16987, 9 November 1920, Page 6

Evidence.

In the House of Representatives yesterday Mr L. M. Isitt asked whether tho Racing Commission will bo empowered to obtain "evidence on the economic "and moral aspects of the matter" of totalisator permits. It would be a very good thing indeed if evidence —in the shape of facts which constitute "ground "for certitude in knowledge," in the dictionary phrase—could bo obtained on | those aspects of racing as it is at present conducted. But it is permissible to doubt whether what Mr Isitt would j call evidence is what would bo accepted ; as evidence by a scientific mind. Tho Commission will easily find people in j every centre it may visit who will "givo "evidence'' as to tho noxiousness of racing and betting from a moral and j from an economic point of view. One knows the sort of tiling: moving rhetoric concerning the lure of the big dividend, which brings working men first into bankruptcy and then into membership of the Red International, solemn assertions that production suffers through the public's fondness for race terrifying pictures of the millions of golden sovereigns (as Mr -Seddon used to call them) which annually disappear from the face of tho earth through the totalisator windows, and general denunciations of "tho gambling evil" as a solvent of the public conscience. Plenty of that kind of thing the Commission can get for the asking, but we should hesitate long before calling it evidenco of any sort, even evidence against tho witnesses themselves. In the nature of things it is impossible for the Commission to obtain evidence concerning "the "moral aspect" of totalisator betting. Mr Isitt's profound conviction that betting is immoral is not a whit more conclusive than another man's profound conviction that it is not. Neither, conviction amounts to "evidence." Nor does the fact that hero and thero ono may find a man who has morally deteriorated through his ! addiction to backing horses amount to any reason why the totalisator should | bo abolished. I

Some kind of evidence as to tho economic effects of racing may possibly bo obtainable, although the opponents of racing havo certainly not given the public any reason to expect that they can say anything really pertinent on this aspect of the question. It is not sufficient to quote tho totalisator statistics. By themselves these statistics signify nothing. They mean merely that a certain amount of tho current cash of the people has been redistributed, tho lion's sharo going to the Treasury. It is for the opponents of racing to show that the redistribution has an \mbalaricing effect upon the economic fabric of the country, and if they can show that they will have carried their study of economics much further than anyone expected it could possibly be carried. They must demonstrate also, what they so often assert, that production has seriously suffered through tho holding of race meetings. It may be —we do not know —that somo sort of evidence on these points may be proffered, but we hardly think that this is what Mr Isitt had in mind. If ho had in mind a bombardment of the Commission by zealous opponents of racing armed only with emotions and meaningless "totals," » then most people will agree that a Commission in quest of evidence would waste its time in listening to them. On one point there is, of course, no dispute between tho friends and opponents of racing. Racing is a wasteful thing, but.only in the sense in which clean collars, tobacco, books of verso, cricket, wine, most sorts of food, and dancing are wasteful tilings. Like all these good things, racing satisfies a natural human need. It does its part, like those, other things, in saving the race, from gloom, madness, and death. It operates more powerfully against Bolshevism, by providing recreation and interest for multitudes of people, than Mr Isitt realises. But wo are not now concerned to do more than call attention tt> tlu> fact, which is clearly indicated by Mr Isitt's question, that tho opponents of racing contem- > plate pouring out their opinions before tho Commission. They may do so, but t.hev must not pvttert tbnt. +hoir nnininne

except, perhaps, of the well known fact that racing has bitter enemies.