BETTING ON RACES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21233, 13 July 1932, Page 7

BETTING ON RACES.

LICENCES FOR BOOKMAKERS

REJECTION BY CONFERENCE,

NEW DIVIDEND REGULATIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —RACING REPORTER. ] • WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The question of tho reinstatement of bookmakers was discussed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference to-day. A remit from the Woodville District Jockey Club stated:—" That, subject to provision being made for the taxation of all bookmakers' bets, made either on or off a racecourse, and for the contribution of a reasonable share of such taxation to racing clubs, effort be made to obtain amendment of the Gaming Act to allow the licensing of bookmakers." In his presidential address Mr. O. S. Watkins said he wished to refer briefly to the clear and definite view held by his predecessor. Sir George Clifford, that the readmission of bookmakers to the courses would be unwise, and detrimental to racing. This expressed his personal opinion also. Double Totalisator Favoured. It was his considered opinion that if the Government passed a bill repealing tho statutory provisions which prevented the telegraphing or remitting of investments on the totalisator through the post office and tho operation of the double totalisator, it would stabilise the revenue it derived from racing, add materially to the revenue of the Post and Telegraph Department j and, as a further result thereof, afford an additional measure of relief so necessary to all clubs. Failing authority to remit investments he suggested there was no justifiable reason why the double totalisator should not be legalised, merely as an adjunct to or an extension of the facilities now provided by the ordinary totalisator. The double totalisator' was operating in England and in many other countries. It was a most popular form of investment. In moving the Woodville remit Mr. W. 11. Gaisford said they could not wink at the fact that racing was going through a very hard time. The stakes were so small that owners had the utmost difficulty in paying the expenses of travelling, even if they won. A great number of horses was going to Australia because of the betting facilities there. If an owner put a few pounds on a horse here he made it favourite straight away. Activities of Bookmakers.

Bookmakers were supposed to have been abolished in New Zealand sinco 1910, continued Mr. Gaisford, and were not supposed to be here now, jyjt at present they were probably handling more money than the totalisator. He felt that if bookmakers were not reinstated many racing clubs would have to put up the shutters. Mr. T. W. Hazlett (Invercargill) seconded the motion.

Mr. Watkins said it was frequently stated that the racing conference was blocking the way against bookmakers coming back, but "there was another hurdle. It would' bo just as hard to get such a measure through Parliament as it would, he hoped, to got it through the conference.?' . •

The remit was overwhelmingly defeated ( on tho voices, ■ w The conference made an important amendment' to ;the rule regarding divi- . dends,' v..The Taranaki Jockey Club proposed tliat' in races with more than nine starters there should bef three dividends on the basis of 70, 20 and 10 per cent-.,: but ' instead of the original remit one drafted. by the executive cqmmitteo of the' conference was substituted. Freedom of Action.

This consisted of a comprehensive addition to Rule 325, giving the executive committee power to authorise clubs to compute dividends otherwise than as at' present prescribed. Mr. J. McLeod (Taranaki) said the effect of the remit was that regulations .pould be mado to cover almost any system of totalisator betting. There were so many systems of betting that the question was to devise one that would best meet the resources of patrons. His club thought the institution of a third dividend in largo fields would appeal to the public, which clubs had to encourage.

Mr. Watkins said. ; the executive committee gave the remit great consideration. Under the new proposal it would be possible for the executive to'permit an extension of the system. The double totalis-' ator, if legalised, would como in quite well. If any large fclub' desired to have straight-out and place-betting it would be possible to do that. The remit pro-, vided for freedom of action and the chief object was to make it permissible to vary the totalisator distributions if clubs -wanted to do so. The remit was adopted. Trotting Official's Views. The reinstatement of bookmakers was also mentioned at the New Zealand Trotting Conference, when the president, Mr. H. P. Nicoll, said: —"This is a thorny subject, upon \vhich I have never had much to say since I have been president. In years gone by I have wagered with bookmakers in England, Australia and Now Zealand, and, though I have not had a bet with a bookmaker in. this Dominion, either directly or indirectly, during the last 15 years or more, the reason for that has been solely because the law of New Zealand makes it illegal to bet, and with the official positions I have the honour to hold, it has been my duty to uphold the law, and set an example to others to do likewise.

" There appears to be a growV ing feeling in somo quarters that tho licensing of bookmakers will assist clubs, and some suggestions with this end in view have been circulated. lam bound to say that in my opinion it is questionable whether the suggested financial improvement in tho status of clubs, following upon the advent of bookmakers upon tho racecourse, would ensue. "There are so many factors to be considered, , and it would be such an upheaval of existing conditions, that if such a change w'ere to be seriously considered it would bo better to como in the days of prosperity than in tho days of adversity wo are experiencing for the time being. I am convinced that tho existing happy-go-lucky order of tho day, where the breaking of the law is openly winked at, is demoralising to tho country and a menace to sport. Bookmakers should either bo licensed, or elso tho law should be sternly enforced."