OFF-COURSE BETS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22319, 2 May 1947, Page 6

OFF-COURSE BETS

AGENCY_SY STEM NO BOOKMAKERS TROTTING SUGGESTIONS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 2. The New Zealand Trotting Conference was opposed to the licensing of bookmakers and considered that if the commission decided that the establishment ot facilities for off-course betting was necessary, the system should be under the control of the trotting and racing authorities and associated with the totalisator. Mr. C. S. Thomas made these submissions in opening the case for the conference. Maximum Decentralisation The scheme proposed by the conference was lor the maximum decentralisation to district agencies lor the receiving oi bets, and the maximum centralisation ior placing money on the totaiisaior Receiving agencies would accepted bets with their local districts. The total of the bets would be forwarded through sub-district offices to district offices. It would then be sent to the Dominion head office and the total received would go on the totalisator ai the latest convenient time. Both the racing and the trotting conferences had considered the scheme and thought it workable. It was admitted that the system would not provide a service equal to that at present given bz the bookmakers, but certain limitations could diminish and probably disappear. As an amendment to the Gaming Act. 190 S. Mr. Thomas suggested the introduction of doubles totalisators on courses. A large proportion of illegal off-course betting was doubles betting which should be available legally. Provision for investment on the course on races to be run later in the dav was also advocated as an amendment to the Act. Another suggestion was that an officer of the club in certain circumstances should be allowed to accept investments by telephone. Greater penalties for persons convicted ol carrying on business as bookmakers, or of keeping common gaming houses were suggested by the conference After the .second conviction it was suggested that the penalty should be imprisonment up to three months without the option of a fine. It was also suggested that all offences against the provisions of the Gaming Act should be dealt with summarily. Corrupt Practices There was the possibility of corrupt practices if bookmakers were licensed, continued Mr. Thomas. It was undesirable that the living of any class should be dependent upon the result of a sporting event A bookmaker bet with Clients for his own private profit. Bookmakers had said that if they were licensed they would be prepared to pay tax which, it was suggested, should be 5 per cent, on losing bets with an added liability upon an investor who won to pay tax. The question as to what rate of tax should be paid was academic, because whenever any Government had imposed a betting tax on wagers made with bookmakers many had evaded payment. “Although some of the bookmakers when licensed were men ol probity, the business tends to breed a bad tyoe of citizen with ‘hangers-on’ who toil not neither do they fpin," Mr. Thomas added. "Many are guessers who live by their wits To-day because of the absence of bookmakers from racecourses and to strict control the undesirable element which at one time frequented all courses is practically non-existent. “Drunkenness on the racecourse is a thing of the past. It must be remembered that once a bookmaker is introduced the undesirable element will not be 'confmerl to trotting and racing. but will enter the field of other sports as well. "If bookmakers are licensed and later gain admittance to the courses the present quiet and dignity will disappear. An artificial and unsatisfactory atmosphere will take their place, and the continual invitation by bookmakers to bet mav well have the effect, oi encouraging people to bet beyond their means. Improvement in Standard "In tlie early part of the century the s.andard of trotting in New Zea'land was iow, said Harry Frederick Aicoll. president of the ixew Zealand Trotting Conierence. There was a gradual improvement in the standard of aamims.ration of tile sport and to-day tiie sport war of the highest standard. The conference did not approve of the licensing ot bookmakers, ne said to Mr \V. E Leicester, for the Dominion Sportsmens Association. Witness added tnat initially, the system lor on-course .betting would not provide lhe betting facilities ai present given by the bookmakers. He agreed that bookmakers were brought into bad repute by a number of undesirable who came from Australia. Mr. Leicester: Are bookmakers today the same as the class of men operating in 1910" Witness- No: as a body.

Mr. Leicester: Have you any reason to think tliat if the class of bookmakers operating to-day were licenced they would be other than honest men'.' Witness- The Trotting Conference unanimously decided that they were against the licensing of bookmakers. The law ol the land and the officers in charge of agencies would judge the age of persons placing ofT-coursc bets, said the witness in reply <to another question There were a iew youths and girls whe placed bets on the totalizator. Staffs had instructions net to accept bets from infants. No Answer Given “I have no knowledge of bookmakers, ’ said the witness to Mr. Leicester. Asked whether he could assure tne commission’ that the conference had any vvidei knowledge of bookmakers, he replied: “I would not like to answer inai one.' William Thomas Lowe, Ashburton, farmer, said ne had ridden and trained horses and was a studmasier and breeder. He considered that the administration of trotting in New Zealand was the best in the world. "I raced when bookmakers were licensed." witness continued, "and I never saw mere corruption than when they were operating. I have been offered the amount of tne stakes to pull m.v horse up. I am dead against the licensing of bookmakers.’ Opposition to the proposal to grant licenses to bookmakers was also expressed by Jesse Colin South, of Winchester, farmer, former vice-president of the Tirharu Trotting Club. Thomas also submitted that the present control and administration of the sport in New Zealand was efficient ana called tor n.) alteration, that there should be an increase in the number oi totalisator permits available to clubs, that the Gaming Act was satisfactory subject, to the amendments suggested, and • that relief should be granted to trotting clubs in respect of the present taxation.