SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29744, 10 February 1962, Page 18

SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS

The great race-going and betting public of New Zealand will await with interest the present investigations into possible improvements in the T.A.B. system, inspired by the recent visit of the Victorian Premier (Mr H. E. Bolte). In Victoria, if a horse pays less than the amount of the investment, the difference to bring the punter back even money is paid out of state taxation. This is certainly a great advantage over the New Zealand system where a man may spend weeks waiting to bring off a racing coup; intensive study of form, weather, track conditions, fields, breeding and the stars may lead him to the conclusion that My Hat

will win the seventh at Sefton. He lashes out with a fiver, only to find that his skill in selection has been matched by 43,212 others, and that the dividend is 14s 6d. It seems probable that a similar dispensation may operate in New Zealand, before long. It would encourage support for the T.AJJ. and therefore help earn more revenue for the Government. It might even be possible to go a little further, if a bigger turnover is thought desirable Something might be done for the punter who loses. Not every time, of course. But there are some strong characters who, after betting regularly for three years without reward, an-

nounce that they are not fools and will give it all up Some of them do, and they are lost to racing It might be useful bait to give a moneyback _ guarantee at the T.A.B.—no winner in 10 straight beta, last investment returned. Or perhaps losing tickets could have a cash value of Is in the £, encouraging betters to save their coupons. Even an issue of picture post-cards might help keep the business buoyant There may be a minority group opposed to these suggestions or to any further expenditure of Government money in such a way. But there are always giinority groups, making a fuss about nothing.