SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1927, Page 11

SPORTING

WHAT “BOOKIES” PAY

Very shortly the bookmakers of the Dominion will be referred to as “the backbone of the country” and may yet displace the primary producers of New Zealand for the coveted honour. Although the “bookies” carry on illegal business, greatly to the annoyance of •the Government, the police and Sir George Clifford, when caught and fined the large sums of money which magistrates order them to contribute to the Consolidate Fund, is willingly accepted.

Since Easter, in three cities alone, “bookies” have paid to the Government in fines over £l2OO. As the result of the prosecution of a Christchurch “turf commissioner” and his clients, over £6OO has been paid in to the Fund. Two weeks ago four Auckland “woolbrokers” were each fined £75 and since then another Auckland bookmaker was fined £3O, another £lO, and only this morning yet another was fined £lO. At Dunedin yesterday a fine of £2OO was imposed. That makes a total of £ll5O, and is for the cities of Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin only. Since Easter other bookmakers in Wellington and provincial towns have been fined large sums. If the police continue their activity against the bookmakers, and those who follow this unlawful calling continue to be caught as easily, then, at the end of the next financial year, the total fines paid should run into an enormous figure. Such good taxpayers are they, that the Minister of Finance may yet include in the next estimates a large sum expected to be received annually from the turf experts.