Tote. Telegrams

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 239, 22 September 1922, Page 3

Tote. Telegrams

AMENDMENT TO LEGALISE. CAMOUFLAGED MESSAGES. “DOUBLE ORDER 74 BLUEGUM.” (Special to “Tribune.”) Wellington, Sept. 21. When the House of Representatives considered the Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill to-night a subject completely foreign to the provisions of the measure overshadowed all other things. Mr. Glenn (Rangitikei) had given notice of his intention to move in committee the following amendment :— Notwithstanding anything in any other Act to the contrary, telegrams relating to investments on the totalisator may be delivered at any racecourse or elsewhere if addressed to the secretary of the racing club under the control of which any race meeting is being held. Mr. Isitt (Christchurch North) was the first to refer to the subject of the amendment. He spoke very strongly against enacting any such proposal, inere was no need, he said, to enlarge the facilities for gambling. It was not a question of encouraging or discouraging sport in the attitude lie was taking up. He was sure that he had the Prime Minister with him. Mr. Glenn : You have not, and 1 will prove it to you. Mr. Isitt said that if the amendment was included in the bill it would open up every race in the Dominion tor betting purposes, and in these times, when thrift was necessary, extension of betting facilities should be denied to the people. Mr. Witty (Riccarton) supported the proposal and said it would mean greatly increased revenue to the Postal Department, which was certainly in need of increased revenue. The Government was short of cash and if the people wanted to send a telegram to a racecourse or anywhere else, why not allow them to do so? If the Gloaming-Beau-ford duel had taken place, in New Zealand hundreds of people who never I had a bet on a horse race would have desired to back their fancy, yet under the law as it stood at present they would not have been able to do so unless they had been on the course. Some people appeared to forget that everybody did not agree with their views If a man desired to have a bet on a horse race he should not be prevented by a man who did not want to bet. Mr.McLeod (Wairarapa) said he was sure that Mr. Isitt was not so simple as to believe that no gambling went on now off the racecourse. Wholesale gambling was being carried on by the very worst class of bookkmakers, who sought out workers in factories and elsewhere. Of course there were some very reputable bookmakers. He knew that —— Members: Where are they? Mr. McLeod: Well, they were reputable bookmakers. (Laughter). Be recalled the fact that the House had received a petition signed by more than 80,000 people prating for reinstatement of the bookmaker. He was satisfied that 80 per cent, of the signatures merely desired facilities for open gambling. They did not particularly want the bookmakers. He could understand people who said straight out “Abolish the bookmaker altogether,” but he could not understand the consistency of people who said that betting should be confined to those members of the public who were actually attending a racemeeting if they were local. They should give people an opportunity of openly betting on the totalisator by means of telegrams; either that or tackle the whole question and abolish the totalisator altogether. These sentiments were endorsed by Mr. Smith (Waimarino), who said he felt confident that the proposal would not increase the volume of betting. Mr, Parry (Auckland Central) stated he would oppose any motion which went in the direction indicated. The Doiisb had dealt very strongly, with the bookmaker. He believed the bookmaker should be given an opportunity of carrying on legal business just as the totalisator was carrying on to-day. Racing clubs were attempting to secure an absolute monopoly oi betting within the Dominion. I he Postmaster-General (Hon. J. G. Coates) said he did not propose to discuss the proposal at the present stage. Already there was a class of telegram going through the post office which they could not interpret, and which could not be stopped. What would Mr. Isitt do with a telegram that’read, “Place double order <4 bluegum,” or “Double order ten lengths bluegum.” As a matter of face bluegum was the name of a horse, and a very good horse it was. Mr. Isitt: But if you had hundreds of such telegrams addressed to one man you would know that that man was a bookmaker. Hon. J. G. Coates: But they are not ail addressed to one man. He had many telegrams which he would be glad to show Mr. Isittt, and if Mr. isitt could interpret them he would be glad to stop all such telegrams in the future. Air. Harris: You are taking a risk. The Hon. J. G. Coates: J am not taking any. risks. Air. Witty: He would be surprised at some of the signatures. The Hon. J. G. Coates added that he did not think the amendment would be a welcome one as far as he was concerned. The fate of the amendment in committee will now be watched with interest.