THE TOTALISATOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20454, 4 January 1930, Page 7

THE TOTALISATOR.

LEGALISATION OF MACHINE.

FIRST DAYS AT ELLERSLIE.

BY PHAETON

A recent reference to tho legalisation oi the totalisator in New Zealand, which Jatea from 1881, shows that the instrument is near to its jubilee in this Dominion. Though tho legalisation of tho machine dates from 1881, Auckland, it may bo remarked, had its experiences with " the automatic dispenser of odds" prion to that period. There are many stories as to how the bill legalising the uso of the totalisator in New Zealand was piloted through Parliament and the reasons which guided several leading men to vote for the measure. That it would confine speculation oil racing to the racecourse and abolish the bookmakers was, there is good reason to believe, tho paramount thought in several cases. It requires but a small acquaintanco with racing to show how fallacious these ideas, were. It was in tho autumn of 1880 that Auckland had its first experience of the totalisator, and it camo about thus wise: A few months prior to tho Auckland Racing Club's Autumn Meeting in tho year named being held information had reached Auckland from Sydney that a Mr. Siegfried Franck had invented a totalisator machine which had worked most satisfactorily, and the Auckland Racing Club communicated with the inventor inquiring- the price of tw.o machines. Mr. Franck made a visit to Auckland with two machines, and tbo A.R.C. authorities got into touch with him. An offer of £fio was made to Mr. Franck for the sole right to use the machine on tho two days, but tho visitor wished the percentage deducted to bo equally divided. Tho proposal was, however, declined and the negotiations were terminated. -he dimensions of tho totalisator invented by Mr. Franck only reached to about 3ft. Ly 2ft., and the face. I think, was limitod to 10 horses.

In a weak moment the right to use a totalisator at Ellerslie at the meeting named was given to somo individuals to work a kind of wooden apparatus, . which was run from a portable structure, the figure denoting the investments beinsr simply moved along slides by the aid of the fingers. It was installed in the paddock ow the first day, but very little money went on> in f*ct, tho first event—the Ellerslie Plate—carried only £2. These investments were both made on the winner, Hilarious, and when the respective investors presented Jheir tickets and received only 18s in return they had something to say. On the uecond day the wooden totalisator v.'as taken cutside the paddock, being placed near tho gate. Investments came along very slowly, but everything went well until tho tunning of the St. George's Handicap, in which ri'.co King Quail came homo first. When tbo machine closed some keen eyes jotted down the figures opposite each horse, and four was ticked off as the number on King Quail, but when tho face of the " tote" came to be examined after tho race the number of King Quail's supporters had mysteriously increased to 14! Then there as a rumpus. Tho police wero summoned antil those engaged in working the machine weie arrested. When charged at the Police Court subsequently tho samii was laid on the grounds of the persons concerned using an illegal instrument, and not, as was anticipated, fordishonest tactics. The ease excitud great interest, and at the finish the presiding magistrate, the late Mr. R. C. Barstow, gave a decision in this forml think Ellerslie is a public place within the meaning of the Act. I think this is an instrument of gaming: and that it was used in playing a game of chance. A mere element of chance was very simple in itself; but when trickery and confederates formed any part of the game the chances against the cheating were lessened. That was a chance unfavourable to the public, and this element could not be shut out from view in considering such a case." A mouth's imprisonment with hard labour was the sentence of tho court on tRe three persona charged. Tho paraphernalia was confiscated.

For somo time past Auckland has year fcy year topped tho list in totalisator investments in a very pronounced manner, and a totalling of figures for the past five years shows that the sum of £4,484,585 went through the machine at Ellerslie. In the season of 1920-21 —whicljj ranks as the greatest season to date—no less a sum than £1,146,180 was invested at the 11 days' racing conducted at Ellerslie by the Auckland Racing Club. Who would have thought in the autumn of 1880 that the day would come when Auckland's " tote" investments would run to such a colossal sum ?

Last year the sum paid to the Government in the form of taxation by the clubs of the Dominion on totalisator investments exceeded half a million. It will therefore be seen that the instrument has been a great revenue-producer. To those who; like myself, can remember the advent of the first totalisator at Ellerslie 40 years back the complete revolution in all that appertains to the working of tho new totalisator is such as to strike wonderment in a pronounced form. When tho opinion was expressed some years back that aii electrical tolalisator was quite a possibility, a lot of shrewd men were very sceptical as to whether any machine could be invented calculated to ensure that high degree of accuracy and reliability in working necessary to make it a success. The sceptics on that matter have long since been well convinced, and it is with a large degree of satisfaction that the progressive spirits identified with the Auckland Racing Club read arightly and on big lines when tho change from the old order was decided upon. Ellerslie was thus equippod in a manner that gave it a prominent rlace on a very important matter.