NON-TOTE MEETINGS

Evening Star, Issue 26042, 5 March 1947, Page 8

NON-TOTE MEETINGS

EVIDENCE TO GAMING COMMISSION DFF-COURSE BETTING (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 5.“' When the Gaming Commission resumed this morning the president of the Racing Conference, Mr H. R. Chalmers, was further cross-examined by Mr Leicester, this time concerning 86 non-totalisator clubs which hold picnic meetings. * Mr Leicester: Do you agree or disagree that ’ a great number of those who attend the meetings of nontotalisator clubs satisfy their desire to bet by betting with, bookmakers jn the vicinity? Mr Chalmers: I have no knowledge of that.

Mr Leicester: Would it surprise you to know that a great deal of betting goes on in connection with those meetings, that people find ways and means of backing their fancies? • Mr Chalmers replied that he only knew they sometimes ran what was called an “ equalisator ” —a 2s or 5s sweep. Mr Leicester: Assuming there was a degree of off-course betting in connection with those meetings, would the sending of money to a totalisator solve the problem of off-course betting at non-totalisator meetings? Mr Chalmers: If they did not have a totalisator we could not send it. The object of those meetings is not for men to make money out of the running. It is more or less of sport. In reply to further questions, Mr Chalmers said no scheme as yet had been contemplated by the Racing Conference which covered betting at such meetings. . Touching on the broadcasting of races, witness disclosed that the broadcasting authorities pay the Racing Conference and Trotting Conference £1,500 a year for the right to broadcast. Of that, £9OO goes to the Racing Conference and £6OO to the Trotting Conference.