ILLEGAL BETTING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1422, 24 April 1912, Page 4

ILLEGAL BETTING.

The prosecutions which have recently taken place in connection with the sending of betting telegrams on horse races should serve to stimulate the efforts of the authorities to bring to account those firms of bookmakers who still carry on their business in defiance of tho law. Tho merits of the particular cases referred to We cannot at present discuss; they have yet to be decided by the Courts. It docs not seem to bo denied however, that betting telegrams were sent to someone. It is, of course, well known that this illegal gaming is extensively carried on and while it is very difficult to obtain ovidenco for the purposo of prosecuting the bookmakers who make it possible, it should not bo difficult to check it very materially. The bookmakers carry on a largo part of their illegal business by means of the post oiiice and the telegraph service. There is power to stop this. In one ease at least the postal authorities did take steps to prevent letters being sent through the post to a suspected firm, but the prohibition was quickly removed. That, however, was in the days of Ihe W.\i:i> Government, when certain Ministers wei'e known lo have a sympathetic regard for the bookmaking fraternity. With a new Government and a new Commissioner of Police, We may see a little more activity shown in the direction of suppressing the people who are setting the Gamiiig Act at defiance in all parts of New Zealand. We have pointed out on previous occasions that the facilities which bookmakers afford the public for wagering on horse races all over Ihe country without attending Ihe race meetings is the cause of more real evil than (lie betting which takes place on tho racecourses themselves. Remove the bookmaker and the facilities which he offers, and the gaming evil, so far as horse racing is concerned, would be n» extent- that would amazo thona unacquainted

with what is going on. _ No ono, we imagino, believes that this illegal betting will over bo completely stamped out. Men will gamble, and the circumstances under which this form of wagering is carried out make it extremely difficult to secure evidence sufficient to enable the police to take action. But at the present time, when printed betting cards with the odds laid by the bookmakers issuing them recorded thereon, are in wide circulation, and every race day backfirs are to bo heard discussing their investments with bookmakers, there is ample room for an active campaign to minimise the evil.