THE VICTORIAN RACING CLUB AND THE TOTALISATOR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 192, 15 August 1890, Page 4

THE VICTORIAN RACING CLUB AND THE TOTALISATOR.

Ad interesting feature at the annual meeting of the Victoria Racing Club, which was attended by 600 members, was a discussion re the totalisator.

Mr B-TKesn moved that stepa be taken to bave the totalisator legalised subjeot to its -administration under the by-daws of the olub. He proved that the use of the machine •would prevent the public being victimised by disreputable bookmakers, and have a bene-* fioial influence on sport. On a recent tour to New Zealand ho had been much struck •wiih Ub utility, and he had not the slightest doubt (hat it would give satisfaction.; Mr Molesworth Green seconded the motion. As there was always bound to be a certain amount of betiing it was wise that stepß Bhould be taken to keep it within proper limits, and tha totalisator would have a good effect iv this direction. Ib would prevent young men from betting beyond their means, for they would be unable to bet on the totalisator without having the money to stake. judge Molesworth said that | before any •recommendation was made members might consult the feeling of those who patronise the Elemington course muoh in the same way as they attend a picnic, without any desire to indulge betting, including ladies and children, He believed that nine out of ten persons who attended the meetings of the Olub neitheribetted nor took any part whatever in aDy betting transaction— (Cries of 11 No," Everyone waa entitled to bis opinion, and he repeated that he believed there were Dine out of every ten persons who went to the course did not indulge habitually in the vice of gambling. Was it wise to aek Par» liament to allow the club to keep what would amount to gambling tables ? If under ihe present state of things a young man was **' welshed," it was the best thing whioh oould happen to him, for it made him stop on the threshold of gaihbling, (Laughter.) If these gambling tables were established, the

would make ibe vice not only easy, but fashionable, And the probability was that not only would gambling increase among men, hut it would be indulged in by women. Mr Molesworth Green— But the women bet now ; they all do it.

Judge Moles worth said, on behalf of the ladies of Victoria, he hurled back the insinuation of Mr Green with scorn. He thought, however, there was little chance of the proposal receiving the sanction of Parliament, for he could not see how the Legislature could consistently allow gambling tables on Flemington course without allowing them in any house in Melbourne. Mi- J. Gtivan Duffy, M.L.A., said he hoped Judge Moles worth was not opposing the totalisator from interested motives. It might be that its introduction would lessen the number of insolvents, and the business of his Court would fall away. (Laughter.) The totalisator had many advantages over the ordinary bookmaker, and it did not get drunk, it did not wear a flaming blue tie or sport dazzling diamonds, it could not swear, and it must pay it debts. (Renewed laughter.) Judge Molesworth notwithstanding, the public liked to have their debts paid, (Laughter.) He must confess that when he went to the races he spent a pound or two, and if he lost he was sorry, and if he won, and was not paid, he was still more sorry. (Laughter.) There should be no humbug or hypocrisy over a question of this kind. It was well known that there was a large amount of gambling on every race* course, and it was as well that it should proceed under such satisfactory conditions as here obtained by the use of the totalisator. The motion waa carried almost unanin mously.