TOTALISATOR IN FRANCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8180, 23 July 1912, Page 2

TOTALISATOR IN FRANCE

The New. South Wales Totahsator C0:..- - ssion, in its report, stated;—A matter of, 1 e greatest importance was correspond lino placed booiro us by the Queensland .'icmler, which had passed between niur ioi£ and the Queensland Agent-Oenei.-i fjlatlvo to betting in France. Portion el was as follows;—Cable from the Chun jeretary. Brisbane, to the Agent-General I* Queensland. London, dated 16th August. It; Make inquiries as to what led to• abUion of bookmakers in France. Wi.ul .vo been the otleots of such abolition? ,s it influenced horse-breeding operamis, and lias it tended to ensure straight hotter racing? The following reply was ro-cived from the Agent-General:—Ke-feiring to your cable ot August 16th, Agcr.td.'uoral Instructs me to telegraph you as i.llows: "Oifloial, private and sporting channels show that abolition of bookmakers in Franco resulted from scandal ami mormons profits made by bookies; determination of public and of Government tu ippreee betting evil as much as possible, fid to convert the backing of horses, which . inseparable from race meetings, to the ervioo of the public good. Percentage ol i takes deducted by Government is devoted to public works, public charities, and nr iiea for horso-rocing. Tho consensus of juinicn with the abolition of tho book--takers has bad a beneficial and salutary effect. It has not affected horse-breeding operations, but by the elimination of the disturbing effects bf contracts between jockeys and bookmakers has distinctly! made in tho direction of stralghter racing, tie has arranged that a copy of the French Act—similar to tho Act in operation in tie ■brails Settlements—shall be sent to yon