TOTALISATOR AND BOOKMAKERS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 139, 10 December 1919, Page 5

TOTALISATOR AND BOOKMAKERS

. The Board of Control of the New Zealand Sports Protection League, at a meeting held on Tuesday, decided to send the following circular to all candidates for Parliament.-—

" Dear Sir,—A circular letter has been forwarded by the Christchurch Council of Churches to candidates for Parliament urging them to oppose an increase of totalisator permits. While it is not the intention of the league to ask you at this stago .to support such increase, I am instructed by the Board of Control to suggest that it would be inexpedient to givo tho pledge asked by tho Council of Churches which will deprive you of that valuabio liberty of action should you at any time be asked to voto upon tho question. "I might say for your information that the position, so far as it concerns' trotting, is that there are 59 licenses issued, 40 to the South Island and 19 to the North Island. Tho sport is gaining in popularity and has proved its usefulness in districts where it is well established. It is clear that the North Mand is inadequately provided with privileges, ajid it may be that the Trotting Conference will be ablo to show irresistible rensons why an increase should be granted. " Our view is that tho conditions on which the question is to be determined have not yet been ascertained ; and that it would bo wrong for a candidate to preclude himself from exercising a wholesome freedom of action when the conditions are ripe for determination. The question appears admittedly to bo only' of degree. "In view of these facts, I am ' instructed to urge upon you not to give any such pledge as that asked for by the Council of Churches. ■ " The league, of course, approves of every effort made to limit or abolish the business, of the. bogkniakpr,". .