THE TOTAIISATOR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 10, 11 July 1912, Page 7

THE TOTAIISATOR

COMMISSION DIVIDED PUBLIC SINGULARLY APATHETIC MAJORITY AND MINORITY REPORTS. ■ »y Tetefrapk.— tren A*«odatt»».— CMJrifirt. SYDNEY, IDth July. The text c£ the reports prepared by (be Totalisator Commission has been puttkhed. The majority report — against the totaftsator— is signed by •ix members, and after stating thai while Ike enquiry was thorough and comprehensive, remarks that " the bulk of the evidence was tendered by interested persons, the general public — who find the whole of tfee money — being singularly apathetic. The maI chine undoubtedly provides a fair' system of betting, and to a very large extent lessens the evils of credit betting; but it does not suppress the worst forms of street and shop betting. Perhaps this flourishes to a leeser extent in New Zealand than in other States. "The totalisator is fascinating, and attracts many who would not bet with a bookmaker. It is natural to assume that its introduction would mean an increase in betting and bettors. Believing t£at racing has already reached abnormal proportions in the Metropolitan area, we feel we .would not be justified in helping to increase facilities. We view with apprehension the growth of betting, believing it has an unsettling effect on the community, and we ar« convinced that the introduction of the machine will not cure but add to existing evils. The present facilities for betting are more than sufficient; therefore 'we recommend that they should not be increased." The minority report, signed by tb* chairman (Mr. Levien) and three other members, says betting is inseparable from horse-racing. The only question, therefore, is the best way to regulate it. The minority supports the totalisator as the fairest form of betting for tiie public, as the means of increasing prizes, providing more efficient up-keep of courses, purifying the sport, tending to improve the breed of horses, limiting betting on racecourses, preventing credit betting, discouraging the big bettor and professional punter, and enabling owners to race without indulging in betting ; also, it would supply a legitimate form of taxation from, which a large revenue might bt reaped by the State, CREDIT AND CASH BETTING DOMINION'S SPLENDID RACECOURSES. MACHINE MAKES FOR PURER RACING. (Received July 11, 10.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The minority report, dealing with th« evidence taken in New Zealand, concludes: — "Every witness absolutely opposed credit betting and preferred a cash system. The only witnesses opposed, to the .totalisator were clergymen, and these objected, to all forms of 1 betting, or those interested in bookmaking. In New Zealand TA per centum of the amount derived' from the* totalisator is devoted to improvements, the upkeep of racecourses, payment of wages, and increase of prizes ; 2^ per centum going to the State. The courses are splendidly kept ; besides being racecourses they are really public gardens." The great bulk of the evidence takes in the Dominion was to the effect that the totalisator made racing purer, and enabled clubs to improve the grounds and increase prizes. That discouraged the big bettor and tie professional t punter, and assisted in improving the ' breed of horses, especially trotting horses, some of which were among the finest in any part of the world. THIRD PARTY'S OPINION. (Received July 11, 9.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Mr. M'Court, one of the commissioners, did not sign either report, but recorded a series of observations in favour of the machine and the strict 'prevention of bookmakers. He suggested that 7A per centum should be the maximum allowed to be deducted by the totalisator, this whole to b« expended in prizes for the upkeep of racecourses. NEWSPAPER COMMENTS REPORTS VERY CONTRADICTORY. NO LIGHT ON ESSENTIAL ISSUES. (Received July 11, 10.10 a.m.)' SYDNEY, This Day. Commenting on the Totalisator Commissioners' reports, th« Sydney Morning Herald says that the only conclusion to bo drawn is that the majority on the commission was unable to meet the arguments against the present evil system of betting, and in desperation decided that they were one-sided. The Daily Telegraph says: — "Unfortunately, the reports are so contradictory that they shed no more light on the essential issues than we already had. About the only outstanding definite feature is the . majority's statement that wherever the totalisator is established it remains in operation, although it is formidably threatened in New * Zealand. That is important evidence.."