THE TOTALISATOR

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13935, 18 December 1905, Page 2

THE TOTALISATOR

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The law states clearly that not mors than 10 per cent of totialisator investments can be deducted, but racing clubs, by means of paying two -dividends if five runnel's, and not paying fractions of a shilling, succeed in deducting almost what they like. At a recent Waitara moating, on the Hurdle Race £3ll was invested, an-d jonly £270 12s paid out, thus deducting £4O Bs, instead of £3l 2s. This is at- the rate of £l2 19s 9d par cent. Again, on thei same daj*, on the Waitafia. Gup, £sol* was invested, and only £439 paid out, thus deducting £62 instead of £SO 2s. This is at tho rate of £l2 7g 6d per cent. At the Christchurch Racing Club’s meeting, on the Flying Handicap £304 was invested, and only £30(5 Is paid out, thus deducting £37 19e instead of £3O Bs. This is at tho rate of £l2 9s Sd par cent. But the Nursery Handicap on tho same- day holds the record, for out of £348 10s invested only £298 17s was paid out, thus deducting £49 13s instead of £34 17sThis in at the rate of £l4 4s lid per cent. This result is arrived .at by a <ushoncst method of -dividing all the investments, whether pound tickets or not, into tea-shilling tickets, and then not paying out any part of a shilling. Thus, Stare and Stripes really paid Ice lid; and yet only l-fis was paid out. Is it .any wonder that racing clubs pay large stakes “to improve the breed” when tho public are being fiooosd in this manner?—l am, -etc., INVESTOR, (Wo have previously called attention to tho excessive deductions, made by the clubs.—Ed. “ L.T.”)