BOOKMAKERS AND RACING.

Grey River Argus, 1 April 1922, Page 5

BOOKMAKERS AND RACING.

PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. Considerable interest has been aroused by the circulation of a petition that is to be presented to the House of Rep- | resentatives, asking’ that the Gaming Law be amended in order that bookI makers may be allowed to follow their calling on racecourses only . The petition, which has been issued by the Dominion Sportsmen’s Association states that it would bo much more satisfactory in the interests of publicmorality for the State to license bookmakers to carry on their business under proper <•■ ntrol by the New Zealand Racing Conference and the New Zealand Trotting Conference, and with Hue provisions for the protection of the public revenue. It is contended that by allowing reputable bookmakers to lay odds on the racecourse, a great deal would be dr Ti - to eliminate the existing evil oc streetcorner and underground betting. It is widely known that the present law is ' being constantly flouted, r. n d therefore it is argued that it v.ould bo in the general interest to bring- bookmaking into the open. The Letting public on the racecourse could then emph y either the totalisator or the bookmaker. Another point that is stressed by the supports of the petition, is tho claim that tho revenue of the State would benefit by the reform that is asked for. It is declared that possibly the sum of £lOO,OOO per a n num would accrue to the stamping of betting cards, while the racing clubs’ incomes would also be largely increased from the same source. AVe are informed that the petition has already received a considerable of signatures, proving that a large section of the public are dissatisfied wi.h the existing legislation relating to bettijlg-