KNIGHT AND TOTALISATOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 16 October 1911, Page 4

KNIGHT AND TOTALISATOR.

CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES. With tho observation that Sir John Findki.v's "cynical disregard of political principle is teo flagrant lo be lightly overlooked," tho Cliristchmch "Press' a tale unfolds in connect ion with lb# opinion of Die Government candidate for tile I'arnell electorate upon such a niundanoilhing as the lot.alisa(or. "11l tho Legislative Council last year (states tho "Press"), in the debate 011 the Gaming Act Amendment Bill, Sir John Fimllar (then Dr. Findlay) niinio a (strong attack nprm the totalisator, and even upon tha sport of horse-racing. 'Hansard, 1 November 15, 1910:"Sir, it is easy to justify with polite phrase and give Iho varnish of respectability to practices and institution!) which do groat harm. Thus, wo often ignore tho evil results of a. sport fo respectable and fashionable thai it is called tho 'Sport of Kings.' But 1 want to make it clear that, in my judgment, horse-racing, no matter how respectable those connected with it may be, is one of tho chief demoralising sources of the people of the. Dominion. "An hon. member: If that is 60, why not abolish it altogether? | "Tho Hon. Dr. Findlay: My reply to that is that if I had my way I would go a long way in that direction, and 1 have no hesitation in saying that tho best sentiment of tho people is moving towards that cud. . . . Now, the Bill betore us is a step towards that goal (the abolition of liookmakers and the tolalisator) and in tho end I believe Ukso evils of tho bookmakers and tho totalisator will be eradicated root and branch. To-day wo have got to 1)B content with a step in that direction. "With these extracts (continues tha "Pruti"') iho reader is invited to compavo I the following passage taken from a rei port in u Ministerial journal of tho speech delivered .by Sir John Findlay in opening the campaign at Parnell on October 9: —- "Arc vou in favour of tho abolition of the totalisator? was another question, and Sir John briefly replied, 'I am not. 1 He added that it had been charged against him that ho was a friend of tho bookmaker, and was sheltering him, but this was not 60. He stood by tho Bill. . . "How aro wo to account for this remarkable change in less than twelve mouths?" inquires tho "Press," "Thcr« is only one explanation so far as we can see. In November, 1!)10, when Sir John Findlay denounced tho totalisator, tho bookmaker, and oven hor,se-racing in such virtuous language, and was ready to extirpate them all, root and branch, ho was a member of tlw Legislative Council, with no constituents to trouble about. In October, 1911, when he is not even in favour of tho abolition of tho totalisator, he is standing as a candidate for a constituency which includes the lillerslic racecourse within its boundarics, and about 400 jockeys, stabloboys, etc., among tho electors."