THE TOTALISATOR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17878, 26 August 1918, Page 4

THE TOTALISATOR.

THE " ODD MONEY." DAILY LOSS TO NATIONAL WEEK INVESTORS TOTALS £2lO. Speaking at the meeting of the Workers' Educational Associ-ation on Saturday evening, the Hon G. W. Russell, dealing with Hospital and Charitable Aid finance, said that for some time he had been looking around for new sources of revenuo to carry on the ever ox'tonding ramifications of 'the work of til© Department. He did not know whether any of his auditors were patrons of the turf, or whether they were present at the meetings of the Canterbury Jockey Club or the Metropolitan Trotting Club the previous week. However, if they were, they would probably have noticed that an inspector, representing it ho Department ef Internal Affairs, was present in tho machine. Ho believed that this was a move in the righ t direction, and he thought that ho could see some prospect of revenue which had hitherto been appropriated by the clubs- The totalisator does not pay out, he continued, to investors all the money it receives, less the stipulated percentage. "Odd money "is not paid. For instance, if the dividend works out at £3 17s lid, tho totalisator pays £3 17s Gd, the balance, 5d on every ticket, being retained by tho club. If the tickets are 10s ones, the dividend is paid as on £3 17s. The following table would show tho amount of "odd money" retained during the recent carnival:—

SSil 9 6 or an average of £2lO 7s 4d per day. As a Minister of the Crown, he desired to say that that money does not belong to tho clubs. It should clearly be returned to the public. He would not object if the' money were handed over to patriotic organisations during the currency of the war, but when peace once more dawned upon a troubled world, he would endeavour to get hold of the money for the benefit of the Dominion's hospitals, and to assist the country's poor. Applause.)

£ 8. a. Canterbury Jockey Club— First day .... Second day Metropolitan Trotting Club— First day Second day . 125 3 . 345 2 . 143 8 . 227 16 0 0 6 0