DRASTIC CHANGES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 128, 2 June 1938, Page 13

DRASTIC CHANGES

ENGLISH BETTING BILL | rrrem "The Post's" Representative.) " LONDON, May. 11. Erislish bookmakers are facetiously iSffi perhaps jaltogether fearies* triumph Withjiis Betting and Bookm TWs S B iil, 'shortly toV bereft a ' second time/has set the racing ."world , of England -'oh.flw; Generally speaking it is admitted to be good m parts, but it is also considered that itrequires very careful amendment in certain sec- , Eons. Bookmakers, pool toetotalisator, newspaper propretors, and the public at large are all involved in the measure. ADJUSTMENTS REQUIRED. If the Bill passes in its present form, the whole vast racing industry will have to make drastic readjustments. Bookmakers, the tote, and newspapers will all be affected. In some respects the Bill follows the, Royal Commission's report on betting. Its object is to do away with certain abuses, to provide for the registration and regulation of bookmakers, and to limit public inducements to betting, It is proposed that no person shall conduct a business of a bookmaker unless he is registered, and except on a race track or at a registered office. The chief officer of police in every police area would be required to keep a register of bookmakers whose residences, or registered offices, were situated in, that area. Certificates of eligibility" Would be issued by the Petty Sessional Courts, and on presenting a certificate and* paying a fee of 5s a bookmaker would be entitled to be registered by the chief. officer of police. ' ~ , ' One clause of the Bill would have a far-reaching effect on newspapers and newspaper advertising. Except upon a race track or in a newspaper not wholly or- mainly devoted to racing matters, the publicatidn of tips would be made, unlawful. CONTROL OF FOOTBALL POOLS. ! Except upon a race track the offer for'sale of tips would also be unlawful, and when any newspaper, contains tips or a forecast.of sporting events, this fact shall not be advertised. It is further proposed that football .pools shall cease to exist in their preI sent., form, and their promoters shall be called upon to conduct ,the business as bookmakers on a cash basis at fixed odds. More than £500,000 was spent in advertising football pools in 1937-38, and £50,000 was spent by football tipsters in advertising. It is proposed that registered bookmakers shall be permitted to carry on their business by personal dealings or likewise on any race track, by post, telephone, or telegram, but not- otherwise: or at an office registered as a cash bet deposit office, where,a "letterbox attached to an exterior wall of the office or of the building in,which such office-is situated" may be utilised for receiving these cash bets. It is stipulated that the office at which bets are to be deposited should be not within fifty yards of a church, chapel, school, or employment exchange. ' RIDERS AT WINGATU! Riding engagements announced for the Dunedin Meeting on Saturday are: C. Humphries, Mungatoon, Silver Slipper; A. Messervy, Astaire, Sheeny; R. Register, Punchestown; , H. Hibberd, Palmyra, Gillie, Wild Career, Rodeur; J. Jennings, Greek Gold, Second Innings, Monipere; C. Wilson, Settlement, Last Refrain, Sham Fight, Mount Val; A. Parsons, Flame Queen. Golden, Chest, Volo Dale; M. Caddy, Donadea, Royal Ransom, Scrap; L. J. Ellis, Foxlove, Amellta, Thermidor, Linguist; A. E. Ellis, Balmenter, Lord Nuffield; W. Jenkins, Night Wings, Alby; D. R. Mackie, Clubman. ANOTHER OF THE FAMILY M. Caddy, who has been very successful in the saddle of late, will complete his apprenticeship with A. S. Ellis late in August, but intends to sign on for another term before launching out, as a free lance. His younger brother, Ronald, is to Ellis, and he has'been granted a riding licence for apprentice races only. He shapes very well in the saddle, and. as he is not likely to be troubled with weight, a bright future should also be in front of him. He may have his first ride in public in the Silverstream Handicap for apprentice riders on the second day of the Dunedin Meeting, j