STREET BETTING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1019, 7 January 1911, Page 7

STREET BETTING.

Sir, —I was glad to read .the remarks on street • betting in ypui'. issue of yesterday, and, liko ybu, 1 trust tlio authorities will soon .make a stir to liavo it put down. But . why placo 'all the blame' on the "bookies" and street bettors? Why not blamo the punters who bet with these men ? To anyone who walks along tho street and keeps his eyes open, tlieso punters are known—you know them,' Mr. Editor, the public know them; thoyaro merchants' clerks, who act as betting agents for ccrtain racing stables, Government clerks 'and messengers, a few ex-civil servants on pension, and a few retired citizens who hob-nob with the "bookies," and are in close touch with them—if a Ministor of tho Crown is thrown in, these aro some of tho punters. Why, then, do tho police not summon or rnovo' 011 these people—the reason is obvious. Many of tlio polieo forco, both uniform and detective branches, aro betting me.n. It is common talk of policemen win-, ning wagers from "bookies," or detectives having; had a good timo at race meotings, or certain members of tlio forco knowing peoplo connected with raciilg stables, and they liavo tho reputation of being punters. So if tho civilian punters aro arrested, somo' civilians would have to- take on themselves to arrest the .police punters. Whon anything appears in tho papers about street betting,- tho "bookies" clear for a day or two, but after a short absence return, as fresh as paint, to oblige their customers —civilians or policemen. It is announced' that tho Hon. Dr. Findlay will make known somo happenings to the police forco beforo January 10. It is to bo hoped it will bo in tlio way of moving 011 some of tlieso polico punters. I hope Mr. Waldegravc, the Polico Commissioner, will give tho matter his attention, but I fear, excellent official though 110 is, that ho has too many offices thrust upon him, and 110 man, however good and capable, he may be, can. find timo to deal with all the details of several largo.Departments of State. But.it is to bo honed 110 will find timo to give tho matter of street betting somo attention, whether by civilians or by the members x of tho police force.—l am, etc., A RESPECTER OF THE LAW. January 5.