The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, JAN. 17. THE TOTE AND BETTING.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 46, 17 January 1913, Page 4

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, JAN. 17. THE TOTE AND BETTING.

Notwithstanding the restrictions that are from time to time imposed upon the public intended to reduce the amount of money that may be spent in gambling, ami the materially reduced number of racing days compared with a year or two back, the money "invested" on the totalisator is increasing at a rate that is little short of remarkable. Many people will say, no doubt, that the remedy is to still further reduce the apparent and legalised opportunities for betting, and to still further reduce the number of racing days—reduce them out of existence in fact. But apparently this remedy will not attain very far towards the end in view. We do not profess sympathy with either betting or racing, and it would be a good thing if there were less of the gambling that is associated with horse-racing. But when one sees The result after the well-meant efforts that have been made in this direction it is difficult to suggest a remedy that would prove effective. There is quite evidently a very large section of the community who are determined to support both racing and betting, and determined to resist any means taken to minimise the opportunities £oy either. A contemporary has published a comparison of the totalisator betting at twolvo different racing centres during the late holidays and' during the corresponding time twelve months previously. The figures are as follows: 1912-13 1911-12 £ £ Tarnnaki 22,364 18,235 Manawatu .. .. 73,315 50 318 Hawke \s Bay .. .. 36,840 21*647 Wairarapa .. .. 24,408 22 545 Marton .. ... .. 37,274 sSlosO Auckland .. .. ] 80,355 A 176 908 Auckland .... f m £ ol i 21,954 18,525 Southland .. ~ 29,198 21084 North Otago .. .. 21,638 Auckland Trotting 46,686 33,8944 Canterbury P. T. .. 36,840 21,647 An increase of over £60,000 for the latter period. Since then we learn that at ithe racing carnival held during holiday fortnight tin the Wm Coast tire investments inude with the totalisator

amounted t(i £iJ4,!iSli, which in £<W7O greater tlifin al the corresponding carnival tin- year before. In fact, it is estimated tlmt the aggregate increase in the totnlisator investments during the holiday races amounts to nearly £7o,o(mi --an astonishing sign of the speculative spending power of the sporting public in Meeting enjoyment; perhaps also a sign of prosperity. It may lie said with some truth perhaps that but for the efforts that have been made to reduce racing and betting the amount would have been very much more than it is. But the results are not encouraging. If there is to lie betting, then it is perhaps better that it should be done through

"the machine" than with the book maker, but it is certainly objectionable from a national standpoint that; the tftate should legalise and participate in the profits of a gambling machine. But they have not got, or did not have until lately, the totnlisator in Australia, and there gambling has a far greater hold upon the people than it has in New Zealand. In fact, there the "bookie" ha? become a power in the land, and many of the leading men have been advocating the establishment of a

"machine'' by the State in order to circumscribe the baneful influence, of the bookmaker. A great deal has been done to stamp out gambling in the Commonwealth, and in numbers of the large cities the gambling agents have been given a short shift. But in spite of all that has been done there does not appear to have been a very appreciable reduction in the amount of betting that goes on. There is a section in every British community that loves "Sport" and loves gambling, and it is this section that prevents a sufficiently powerful public opinion manifesting'itself in favour of reform. It is for this reason that many reformers desire the totalisator in order that gambling may be diverted into more controllable channels than it is at present. Tn New Zealand we have got practically rid of the "bookie," as he was known a few years ago. There is still a great deal of betting done with bookmakers, however. Much as many people would like to see the totalisator abolished it must be confessed the outlook is not hopeful, and it seems very doubtful whether one effect, would not be to drive gambling into more obscure and more objectionable channels. The control of sport and betting is a difficult one, and apparently the age has not yet arrived when it can be abolished—it can only be controlled.