POPULAR FORM OF AMUSEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 22271, 24 February 1936, Page 4

POPULAR FORM OF AMUSEMENT

FOOTBALL BETTING POOLS A VAST INDUSTRY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 22. The ‘ Sun-Herald ’ Service says the Football League’s decision to smash pools threatens one of the most popular forms of national amusement, 10,000,000 men, women, and children, or a quarter of Britain’s population, participating in a turnover estimated at £30,000,000 in prizes as high as £20,000 for an outlay of one penny. A vast industry has been created, employing thousands, and the additional revenue to the Post Office is estimated at £62,000 from stamps on 10,000,000 letters every week, excluding poundage on money orders. [A previous cable stated: It is unofficially stated that in order to circumvent betting pools the Football League has decided to cancel all fixtures after this week-end, only announcing the fixtures on the Thursday prior to the Saturday’s matches. The Scottish League is not following suit this season. At a meeting in Manchester of the directors of Football League clubs, called to consider the attitude of the League Jo pool betting on League matches, it was decided to ask the Government to introduce legislation to stop pools. Representations for the suppression of pools were recently made to the Home Secretary by religious and social workers, who state that betting of this kind has become a grave evil.] BOWLING CENTRE EXECUTIVE MEETS A meeting of the executive of tfie Dunedin Bowling Centre was held on Saturday, night, there being present Messrs J. J. Reid (in the chair), J. Forster, J. H. Hinton, E. Longworth, G. A. Nelson, S. Devereux, W. Connor, F. W. Venn, J. Nelson, W. D- Richards, A. Cook, J. Melville, J. G. Butler, W. G. Lloyd, A. Jakeway, A. Melville. J. Knowles, T. Smith, J. J. Davis, C. Howard. W. Thomson. CRIPPLED CHILDREN’S FUND ' RECEIPTS. It was reported that as a result of the centre’s efforts, the sum of £52 8s 8d had been handed over to the Crippled Children’s Fund. CLOSING OF GREENS. There was some discussion regarding the Kaikorai Club’s request that it be allowed to close its green on March 14 after the interclub matches had been played. It was moved that the request be granted. As an amendment, it was moved that the application he referred to the Greens Committee for favourable consideration. The mover of the amendment said that the Greens Committee had been appointed to deal with matters of that nature among others. In addition, it was necessary to have as many greens as possible available for the Easter tournament. Finally, on a show of hands being taken, the amendment was carried. Mr Knowles made verbal application on behalf of the Leith Club that the Greens Committee pay an early visit to the club’s green to determine whether or not it was fit to play on. After a discussion it was decided that the application be granted, and that the committee be given power to act. EMPIRE GAMES TEAM. The Secretary reported that remits from the Wellington and the Central Otago Centres had been received and transmitted to nil clubs in the Dunedin Centre. The Wellington remit road: “That it be a recommendation to the New Zealand Bowling Council to take, steps to send a selected team of bowlers to Australia in 1938 to take part in the British Empire games, and that a levy on all bowlers in New Zealand be struck to provide funds to pay the expenses of the team.” The Central Otago remit suggested that a levy of 6d a member be made on all clubs to provide a fund for the purpose of sending a selected team of bowlers to the games. VISIT TO LAWRENCE. The Lawrence Club wrote stating that it would welcome a visit from Dunedin members, and suggested that a game with the visitors should be arranged for February ,27. —This was agreed to. GENERAL. The matter of selecting greens for the champion of champions on March 7 and 9 and Adess Shield competition games on March 21 and 23 was left in the hands of the Greens Committee, with power to act. and the Match Committee was empowered to choose the umpires. It was decided that the Easter tournament programme be the same as last year—singles on Thursday, rinks on Good Friday, pairs on Saturday, and consolation rinks on Monday. In our report of the annual meeting of the Caversham Association Football Club it was stated that it was the club’s intention to set aside nights for training. This should have read: “ The club intends to install lights for training purposes.”