IN DEFENCE OF THE TOTALISATOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13193, 2 June 1906, Page 5

IN DEFENCE OF THE TOTALISATOR.

■<» T" STATEMENT BY Mil. G. G. STEAD. [MY TKT.KI KAPIt.—IT.ESS ASSOCIATION*.] ClinisTCliUKCH, Friday. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club to-day the- chairman (Mr. G. G. Stead), referring to the totalizator, said the opponents of -racing were unable to advance any evidence in support of their allegations that racing ana the totalizator were prejudicing the welfare, of the* community. A* a matter of fact, it was unanimously admitted that New Zealand was never more prosperous than at present, and the opponents of racing might look in vain for practical proof that the material welfare of the people was suffering through the colonial love of sport. Mention had been made that in 15 years the money invested on the totalizator had increased from rather over £500,000 "to something under £1,500,000 a year. It, however, should lie remembered that during the wins period the population had increased by - nearly 300,000, and that the. public revenue had increased from some £3,000,000 to rather over £7.500,000. The amount invested on the totalisator last year through the racing clubs was £1,231,011, but to a ... great extent it was the same • money that went through the machine again and again. The actual cost to racegoers of investing on the totalisator was the 10 per cent, com- *" mission, which last J, yea. amounted to £123,120, and, accepting the estimate that over 100,000 adults attended the various racecourses, it was not an excessive amount - for a prosperous people to spend on a popular form of amusement. Tho thousands who enjoyed racing, and liked a vvagei on the results, appreciated the. totalisatoi, because it Was democratic in principle in affording the. (small investor • equal opportunity" with "the wealthiest. It should not-bo-overlooked that publicists held that amusements were essential for the wellbeini? of the body politic-. Public amusements all cost, money, but so long as the necessary funds were voluntarily provided by tho sport-loving section of the community to maintain a popular amusement, interference by those who were not asked to contribute savours of a dog-in-the-man-