CONTROLLING BETTING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 12 April 1922, Page 2

CONTROLLING BETTING

j A REASONABLE PETITION > It is an established fact that the ; wagering instinct is inborn in human ; nature, and that properly regulated it I does no appreciable harm. Gambling is not confined to the turf or to games of ’•chance ; it operates in every phase of ‘life. > Our Gaming Laws, as far as they ap‘ply to racing, are inconsistent; in as 'I much as they discriminate between rich land poor, and afford a monopoly to the ‘extent of preventing competition with j the totalisator. This is most unfair ; to j race-goers, particularly to those of I moderate .means, who enjoy this form j of sport and recreation. j Either betting should bo prohibited on the racecourse, and off, or some means of control should be devised which would be more effective than the present system. The present Gaming Law has suppressed reputable men operating as bookmakers, who had their reputation placed at slake, and has raised > a most | undesirable form of secret betting in I shops, offices, and factories, j Undoubtedly there is a sphere for the reputable bookmaker. It was possible in the old days for .a sportsman of moderate means to transact bets j which were within his means, and he 1 was* not forced to spend 10s or a £l, (which he could not afford, in backing 1 a horse Properly controlled, the bookmaker w’ould be undoubtedly a useful member of society. Were the Government to legalise fit and proper persons as bookmakers, approved by the Racing Conference and the Police, it would increase its revenue by about £IOO,OOO from licenses, and the racing clubs would* benefit by an addition to their revenue, in payment for permits granted to operate jon ! their; courses.’ * ’ • j A petition, praying the Government 1 to make the avocation of the bookmaker legal,; is at present -being* widely cirem lated throughout New Zealand. _ Its claims are so reasonable and its intentions so honest,* . that it "deserves the signature of every sportsman throughout the country.