TOTALISATOR FRACTIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 246, 12 July 1921, Page 5

TOTALISATOR FRACTIONS

Sir,—Regarding the Government’s present attitude, in confiscating from July 1 all totalisator fractions at all race meetings: This money is wholly public money, belonging to the racing people who attend the race meetings, and should not be retained by the Government or racing clubs, but should be given back to tho racing public, in some suitable way, the Government and racing clubs, of course, getting their fair percentage as usual. What I would suggest is that at the end of each race meeting all totalisator fractions should be pooled. A. special window on the lawn be opened for the sale of tickets at a small charge during the meeting. At the close of the, meeting totalisator fractions and the proceeds from the sale of tickets would be pooled; the Government and the racing club would deduct the usual percentage, and the balance would be divided out as a sweepstake in several sums. This would ensure that the money was given back to the racing public who had spent it there at that meeting. By doing this, everyone, I believe, would be satisfied. Why should the Government retain nil this money? They are nob getting it by tax in the usual way; they are confiscating it, knowing whom really it belongs to. I know’ there will bo many who do not believe in sweepstakes, but what better, broad-minded way could be found ? The Government, I fully believe, let hundreds of thousands leave the country every year for sweeps. Why noh allow them on racecourses where there is a Government inspector supervising the totalisator, and who could also see thnb. the sweepstake was carried out in tho right wav? —I am, etc., TRENTHAM. ["This suggestion could not be carried out without an amendment of the law.]