TROTTING HEADS WANT OFF-COURSE BETS WITHOUT BOOKIES

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1947, Page 7

TROTTING HEADS WANT OFF-COURSE BETS WITHOUT BOOKIES

CHRISTCHURCH, May 2. At the Gaming Commission, Mr C. S. Thomas, opening the case for the N.Z. Trotting- Conference, said the conference was opposed to the licensing of bookmakers, and considered that if the Commission decided that the establishment of facilities for off-course betting was necessary, such system should be under the control of the trotting and racing authorities and associated with the totalisator. A scheme proposed by the conference was for maximum decentralisation to district agencies lor receiving of bets, and maximum centralisation for placing money on the totalisator. Receiving agencies would accept bets within their local districts. The total of the bets would be forwarded through sub-district offices to district offices. It would then be sent to a Dominion headoffice, and the total received would go on the totalisator at the latest convenient time. Both the Racing and Trotting Conferences had considered the scheme, and thought it workable. It was admitted this system would not provide a service equal to that at present given by the bookmakers, but certain limitations would diminish and probably disappear. As. an amendment to the Gaming Act, 1908, Mr Thomas suggested the introduction of doubles totalisators on the courses. A large proportion of illegal off-course betting was doubles betting, which should fie available legally.

Provision for investment on the course on races to be run later in the day 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 of carrying on business as bookmakers, or of keeping' common gaming houses, were suggested by the conference. After a second conviction, it was suggested, the penalty should be imprisonment up to three months without the option of a fine. It was also suggested that all offences against provisions of the Gaming Act, should be dealt with summarily. There was a possibility of corrupt practices if bookmakers were licensed, said Mr Thomas. It was undesirable that the living of any class should be dependent, upon the result of sporting events. 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 five per cent, on losing bets, with added liability upon the 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 of probity, the business tended to breed a bad type of citizen with “hangers on” who “toil not neither do they spin.” Mr Thomas stated: “Many are guessers who live by their wits to-day. Because of the absence of bookmakers from the racecources, and strict control, an undesirable

element which at one time frequented all courses is practically .nonexistent. . Drunkenness on the racecourse is a thing of the past. It must be remembered that once the bookmaker is introduced an undesirable element will not be confined ■to trotting and racing, but will enter the field of other sports as well. If bookmakers are licensed and later gain admittance to courses, the present quiet and dignity will disappear. An artificial and unsatisfactory atmosphere will take their place, ana a continual invitation by bookmakers to bet may well have the effect of encouraging people to bet beyond their means.”

In the early part of the century the standard of trotting in New Zealand was low, said Harry Frederick Nicoll, president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference. There was a gradual improvement in the standard of administration of the sport. To-day the sport was of the highest standard. The conference did not approve of licensing bookmakers.

To- Mr Leicester (for the Dominion Sportsmen’s Association), witness “said that initially any system for “off-course” betting would not provide the betting facilities that are at present given by the bookmakers. He agreed that bookmakers were brought into bad repute by a number of undesirable persons who came from Australia. Mr Leicester: Are the bookmakers to-day the same as the class of men operating in 1910? Witness: Not as a body. Mr Leicester: Have you any reason to think that if the class of bookmakers operating to-day were licensed, they would be other than honest men?

Witness: The Trotting Conference unanimously decided that they were against the licensing of bookmakers. The law of the land and officers in charge of the proposed agencies would judge the age of persons placing ‘'‘off-course” bets, said witness in reply to another question. There were few youths and girls .who placed bets on the totalisator, he said. Staffs had instructions not to accept bets from infants. “I have no knowledge of bookmakers,” said witness to Mr Leiceste?’. Asked whether he could assure the commission that the conference had any wider knowledge of bookmakers, he replied: “I would not like to answer that one.”

William Thomas Lowe, an Ashburton farmer, said he had ridden and trained horses and was a studmaster 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 more corruption than when they were operating. I have been offered the amount of + he stakes to pull my horse up. I am dead against licensing of bookmakers.”

Opposition to the proposal to grant licenses to bookmakers was also expressed by Jesse Colin South, of Winchester, farmer, a former vicepresident of the Timaru Trotting Club.

Mr Thomas submitted that the present control and administration of the sport in New Zealand was efficient and called for no alteration. He said there should be an increase in the number of totalisator permits available to clubs. He said the Gaming Act was satisfactory subject to amendments suggested, and that relief should be granted trotting clubs in respect of present taxation. Mr W. R. Lascelles, for the Canterbury Jockey Club and New Zealand Trotting Owners’, Trainers’ and Breeders’ Association, said he would like to submit a statement later. Mr Roy Twyneham announced that he was appearing for a witness, Arthur Leonard Albertson, a former bookmaker, and one who would be seeking a license if bookmakers were licensed. For the Metropolitan Trotting Club Mr F. W. Johnston said that

it was not going to ask for any great concessions. His submissions would be short. Canterbury Park. Trotting Club was taking the same attitude, said Mr H. P. Smith. Mr A. C. Fraser said that Ranglora Trotting Club had hoped to call J. R. McKenz : e as a witness, but he understood that McKenzie would be called by Mr Thomas on Tuesday. His Honour said, that Mr Fraser would be able to question McKenzie. Messrs A. T. Donnelly and E. D. Blundell (Wellington) appeared for the New Zealand Racing Conference and Mr W. E. Leicester for the Dominion Sportsmen’s Association, and about twenty others interested in trotting and racing. VIEWS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT Opposition to the licensing of the bookmakers was expressed by witnesses called by Mr Thomas. “It has to' be recognised that the public will bet off the course, ana that, if legalised facilities are not available, they will bet illegally with bookmakers. 'This is a very bad state .of affairs especially as it brings the law of the land into disrepute.” These remarks were made by Robert Maf eking MacFarlane, member ot Parliament for Christcrurch Central, referring to the suggestion that, the trotting racing authorities should have control of an “off course” betting system. Mr MacFarlane said that, if facilities were granted to those authorities, it would not mean the elimination of the bookmakers, but they would be reduced to a minimum and that would be all for the good of the sport. While he realised any scheme put forward by racing authorities would not be able to give as full a service as lhat provided by the bookmakers, he did not think that should be allowed to stand in the way of any reasonably efficient scheme. “If, however, facilities are not recommendd, t take the view that, as a last resort and as a last resort only, it would be better to legalise the bookmakers for “off course’” betting rather than to let matters stand as they are,” he continued. *T take this view with a great deal of reluctance, because I think that, directly the element, of personal gain enters, there must be a tendency towards interference with the results of races.” Publication of dividends and the introduction of a doubles totalisator were also advocated by Mr MacFarlane, who said that both things would assist in “knocking” the bookmaker. EFFECT ON P. & T. OPERATORS Mr C. E. Leicester, for the Dominion Sportsman’s Association asked the witness about the working of the 40-hour week and the effect of any “off course” betting scheme on the hours of work of the Post and Telegraph Department employees. Witness said taht, if the scheme was introduced, the employees would have to abide by the law of the land, and he had not doubt they would do so. Asked about his attitude to persons who could not take advantage of any approved scheme for "off course” betting, Mr MacFarlane said that, if only a small percentage of persons was not. covered by the scheme he did not think he could consider such a small number. PUBLICATION OF DIVIDENDS The chairman, Mr Justice Finlay: “Do you think dividends should be published? would publication have the effect of encouraging betting?” Witness: “The average dividend paid throughout New Zealand is not large, and would not tend -to increase the number of l bettors, <or

attract young people." “If dividends were announced over the air it might give the bettor information of his position,” said His Honour. A person might, .then be encouraged te bet to cover his losses ,or he might invest his winnings.” Mr MacFarlane said that he had not considered the broaadcasting of prices, but he thought that it might be wise not announce the prices on the air. He referred more particularly to the publication of the prices in the newspapers. FEAR OF “PARASITES”

“Generally speaking, the registered bookmaker is a decent man, but where bookmakers operate there is always a class of parasites unknown to New Zealand sports,” said George Bennett Noble, referring.io bookmakers in Australia. He said that five years ago he came from Australia as a private trainer- and stud master to J. R. McKenzie. In New South Wales and Victoria, he had had experience of betting systems where the totalisator and the bookmakers—registered and unregistered —operated. “Professional urgers, crushers, and manipulators of odds” were described as a class which made its living on Australian racecourses, lowering the status of sport and introducing sharp practices. The absence of such practices in New Zealand was pleasing to the visitors with a knowledge of racing overseas. Efforts made by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club to gain permission to provide facilities for totalisator investments to oe placed on races to be run some time later in ihe day were briefly discussed 'My club made application to Wellington to be allowed to de as I am suggesting, but the request was rejected, although we have been unable to obtain any reason for the rejection of legal grounds therefor,” said Allan Leicester Matson, giving evidence for the Metropolitan Trotting Club. Mr. J. W. Heenan (a member of the commission): There has been no legal rejection of the club’s suggestion. There has been an informal exchange of letters on the subject between an official of the club arid the department’s inspector of totalisators. Mr. Matson said he considered that the grounds against the plan were thin, but Mr, Heenan replied that it had been for the club to carry the matter further. Mr. Matson said that there were patrons who preferred to sit in the stand rather than go down into the crowd to place a bet. With suitable provision this class could place their best, perhaps an hour before the start of a race. Also affected were the patrons who had to leave the course early. Under the law they could not leave money with friends to’ invest for them in subsequent races. AUCKLAND, May 2. To demonstrate totalisator equipment to the Royal Commission on Gaming, a party of representatives of .Automatic Totalisators, Ltd., of Australia, arrived at Auckland from. Sydney by flying-boat. Mr F. S. Grace, managing director of the firm, said that the party had been requested by the Royal Commission to give evidence at Christchurch in the middle of the next wek, and intended to show the working of the system for controlling off-course betting, enabling bets to be placed through the totalisator from nearby offices, and a scheme for doubles betting on the course.