CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 519, 28 May 1909, Page 9

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

• -THE BOOKMAKER QUESTION. (BI TELEGRAPH—r-BESS ASSOCIATION ) Chrlstchurch; May 27. The annual meeting of members of the Canterbury Jockey Club was held to-day. The committee's report stated that the profit, on tho yoar exceeds any other in tlie history of tho club.. The profit and loss account shows.that the receipts amounted to £46,842. Bs. -lid., and the expenditure to £38,314 Os. Id. In the cotirso of his address, Mr. P. H. Pyna' (chairman) said that lately it had been stated that racing clubs did not take sufficient precautions to find out tho character' and financial standing of bookmakers, and that their solo wish .was to make.as much money out of them .as possible. Ho stated ■ that. this cert&iuly was not so, in so ;far us the Canterbury Jockey Club was concerned. ETer since the Betting Act came into force, tho club had been careful-riot to license bookmakers of bad character, and they, had not licensed any man who was a'defaulter. If possible, they might make it conditional of licensing a bookmaker, .that he must possess the abil-, ity to pay, but that he thought was not a matter for any particular club, but rather for the, conference, or for. the' Government to amend the Betting.Act. So long as tho law /compelled clubs to license' bookmakers, the clubs pmit, of course, do so, but he :would never cease to plead tho cause of tho totaliuator, every penny, of the profit of. ;which was expended for the benefit of racing. He hacl had some regulations drafted up,; which ho proposed to submit to the incoming committee. Ho.believed, that the regulations made would be considered an honest attempt to overcomo tho difficulty which at present exists in licensing bookmakers. Tho meeting. resolved to sonu a. cablo to tho King, congratulating' him on his Derby victory. '•. ■•■.-.'