BETTING SYSTEM IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22072, 21 April 1937, Page 6

BETTING SYSTEM IN AUSTRALIA

. . ——♦ CRITICISM BY THE HON. G. R. HUNTER Some strong criticism of the system of race betting in Australia was voiced by the Hon. G. R. Hunter, M.L.C., on his return yesterday from a visit to New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Mr Hunter has been prominently associated with racing in tho Dominion and was keenly interested in all aspects of the sport in Australia. He described the betting system , there as being “wrong and rotten to the core.” “In South Australia,” Mr Hunter said, “betting shops have been estab- . lished, and I would regret very much to see their introduction in New Zea- ' land. I visited one of these betting • shops on the day of the Oakbank i races and saw women betting, and m between races peeling potatoes and • apples to take home for their hus- ■ - bands’ dinner. These betting shops cater for the poorer classes, and bets • as low as 2s are taken, but in my • opinion they can have only a.perniol ous influence on the community. : They do not exist in Victoria or New : South Wales.” • xi _- .. ■ , 1 Mr Hunter said he thought tht - system of betting in New Zealand could not be improved upon except 1 for the introduction of a double totaiisator. The system of double betting ’ was very popular, and it was restricted 3 to the course. There was a great out- • cry in Sydney against the system of 3 starting price betting. Every hotel and restaurant had its starting pric r agent operating, and one result had 3 been a falling off in the attendances 5 at race meetings. Bets as low- as 6d 1 were accepted by the starting pric 3 agents, who were unlicensed and car- ’ ried on their illicit betting to the detriment of the racing clubs and the 5 licensed bookmakers, as well as ron r bing the State of revenue.