THE GAMING AND LOTTERIES BILL

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2275, 18 July 1881, Page 3

THE GAMING AND LOTTERIES BILL

To the Editor of the Globe.

Sir, — In perusing the Giobe of the 11th of this month, I see the editor draws the attention of the public to clause 48, relating to the totaliaator. Now, sir, I quite agree with the wording and restrictions laid upon it, namely, that it should be under the strict supervision of a responsible and recognised jockey olnb, with the recommendation of the senior Resident Magistrate. But that's all very well for the upper ten; they will be able to go to the different race meetings and enjoy an Englishman's privilege of spending his pound la hi? own way, and thereby retain what every Englishman justly prides himself upon—the liberty of the subject. Now, Mr Kditor, I think that you will agree with me when I say there is another class, namely, the working class, that possibly cannot afford to go to the races and spend their ponnd, but still would like to have the same privilege as their more wealthy brethren, and spend their shilling in their own way. Now, sir, I am not in favor of gaming tables, such as are to be seen at every »ace meeting I say, do away with them, by all means, _ and get rid of a lot of useless members of society. But there is another instrument that is to be seen on a public racacourse, that is quite as much in favor with the public es the totalis&tor; it is oalled the equalisator, a sort of a clock-faced wheel, whioh, like the apparatus in the "Octoroon," oannot lie. Now, it might be possible that a jockey olub wov'd think this machine too significant a thing to notice; but there is a way out of the difficulty, and possibly a safer one for the public, than being under the guardianship of a jockey olub, namely, the police ; because I take it for granted that they are a body of men who know when things are working honestly and oorreotly, and I

would suggest, as a means of keeping the proprietors of these equalisators select, to license them at a good stiff sum, say £SO a year. That would be the means of adding a little more to the revenue, and by so being licensed it would cause the proprietors of these machines to be very scarce, and it would certainly make them very cautious as to the conducting of them. For the slightest impropriety in the working of thorn their license should be cancelled, and the pro-

prletor bo offending should never be allowed to get another license in New Zaaland. I think, Mr Editor, if the framer of the Gaming and Lotteries Bill would insert a clause to that effect, and give it a trial, say for twelve months, it would meet the requirements of the Act, and would also ullow the working and poorer classes to enjoy the same privilege as their wealthier brethren. It is a well-known fact, that when the British public meet in large numbers, whioh they are sure to do at a race meeting, they will spend their few shillings how they like—if not openly, they will do it secretly—thereby causing some unfortunate gamester to be induced toplay some game to .or for them, and, likely enough, to be arrested for bo doing; that is if the Act is carried out in its entirety. I

take it for granted that every man that goes to a race meeting does not want to spend h's few shillings in drink, for that's what he most likely will do if he has not or oannot afford to spend a pound in the totalisator. Borne possibly may go to the rases simply to see them, but they are few and far between, and I should say, without fear of contradiction, that nine out of every ten that go to the races have got a few shillings to spend in some interestimg way without getting drunk and making beasts of thoraßclveu. Now, Mr Editor, when I advocate the oqualisator, it is because it is the simplest and fairest thing I ever saw on a racecourse, and I have been an observer on many a racecourse besides a New Zealand one. But I would suggest that any maohine that would give the same result and satisfaction, and rooommended by the police as an honest machine, should be allowed, and I would also

BUggOßt that no one should be able to get a license except on the recommendation of the police of the district in which he, the applicant, has resided for Bome considerable time, and consequently will be able to speak of his charaoter and honesty of purpose. I certainly do think that efficient body of men, the police, do know who is who and what is what on a racecourse. Moreover, since our legislators are so fond

of playing follow my leader and copying the legislators of the other ooloniea, I would ask for the same privilege that the public enjoy over in our sister colony, for since the legalisation of the totalisator in South Australia, the cloek-faoed wheel, or commonly known equaliaator, is the only instrument in the shape of gaming that is allowed by the authorities, but whether licensed or not I cannot say. But, however, there they run side by side of their big brother the totalisator, and there everybody goes home perpectly aatufiod with himself that he has spent his money aa he likes, and satisfied that he has had a little excitement and fair p!ay, oven if he has been indulging in a little gaming in the shape of a shilling sweep

with his few shillings that he allowed himself for his day's pleasuro, and no wojb envious of his richer brother who haa spent his pound how he liked in the totalisator, whioh the poor man is certainly debarred from, because he cannot afford it. What is sauce for the goose is sunce for the gander, and if he is satisfied everybody else ought to be. I hope you will exouse the length of this letter; it is the fi-st ever I rid write. But I cannot help it when I see a few legis. lators trying to make cla?s destinations by Act of Parliament, and infringing the rights and liberties of the subject, which they certainly are trying to do. By inserting this you will oblige,

Your*, &i„ HILLY FAIR PLAY.