CERTIFICATED BOOKMAKERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14208, 3 November 1909, Page 8

CERTIFICATED BOOKMAKERS.

THE FIT AND THE UNFIT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. Some observations on the Gaming Act are made by Mr. Dinnie, Commissioner of Police,' in his annual report. He says : — " The provisions of the Gaming Act as re gards betting houses, street betting, restrictions on betting telegrams, betting advertisements, and the use of the totalisator are eminently satisfactory, but haying regard to the licensing of bookmakers and the in"cliseriminate action of racing authorities in. issuing betting licenses to all applicants in a position to pay the necessary fee, irrespective altogether of character or fitness to hold a license, the- result has been quite contrary to that intended. Bookmakers and their followers have seriously increased, the majority of them being totally unfit both pecuniarily and Otherwise to hold licenses. If bookmakers are to be licensed to bet at race meetings (a provision V which' from a long and varied experience of racing I could not support) the law should provide that none but those holding a certificate of fitness from a-magistrate (on the report of the police) 6r chief of police of the district concerned should be licensed, nor should anyone be permitted to act as a bookmaker at any race meeting whatsoever unless he holds such certificate.