THE BETTING INQUIRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11950, 26 April 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE BETTING INQUIRY.

THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE'S EVIDENCE,

A'r a late sitting of the Lords Committee on betting (lie Duke of Devonshire said he had been more or less engaged in racing for ft very considerable time, and he was very well acquainted with the system of betting which went on at races, lie was of opinion that it was quite impossible to stop betting oil the racecourse, or the betting which took place in private clubs or rooms resorted to by bookmaker.* in connection with belting. He should not lie in favour of trying to stop that class of betting. It seemed to him quite impossible to attempt to impose penalties upon an act which was not in itself either wrong or immoral, and which at the same time, did not injure— all events directly—anyone else. If they could not prevent him making a. Wager with anyone—the chairman, for example —as to the'merits of a. horse he Could not see how they could possibly make it penal for them to do the same tiling with a professional bookmaker. He was ol opinion that. if any attempt was made to put down the open betting which now took place at Newmarket'and elsewhere betting would " still . (Continue, though no doubt it Would be conducted under somewhat, different conditions, and probably with less fairness mid honesty than at the present time. To put a stop to the betting would, in his optnioiv either put an end ,to, or very seriously injure,.racing altogether.' If they stopped betting it was possible that a few horses might still be bred and trained for* the purpose of J" competing for some, great prizes—the' DeMy and similar races—but there would be, very little, if any, inducement to own tyr 'twill the vast majority of horses which could not expect to win Stakes of great value and Importance, Personally, he Would Very much regret anything which would either put a stop to or seriously injure racing, because he believed the breeding and training of horses was a great national industry, and one which was of great importance as tending to improve the breed of horses in our country; and, further, it would, he believed—despite the fact that it might be attended With considerable evils— interfere with a very large amount of amusement provided for a very large, number of people. Lord Peel: Without the assistance .of betting you'thmk that a great many people would not be able, to maintain thenracing studs. Witness: I am not at all sure that the practice of betting does tend to make the keeping of studs a paying concent. ; (Laughter,) I think quite the rjveree. (Loud laughter). Replying to further questions his grace said he did not see. why a workman should be prevented from backing a horse for a small num. After other evidence the committee again adjourned. - >■ • *