N.Z. SPORTS LEAGUE AND THE TOTALISATOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9043, 14 May 1915, Page 3

N.Z. SPORTS LEAGUE AND THE TOTALISATOR

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.’’ Sir, —1, like many* others, read with amazement' the appeal and cry of the, New Zealand Sports League in a circular sent out and published last week, signed by Mr Charles Skerrett, K. 0., one of our loading barristers and solicitors, as chairman, praying that' no further- lax should be, placed on the totalisator. It lias often been stated that the New Zealand Snorts League was run more in tho interest of the totalisator and breeders of thoroughbreds than any other branch of sports in the Dominion. Well, the latest move of the Sports League, in asking that no further tax be played on the gambling machine, must make all other sports bodies very insignificant, particularly as they have no totalisator profits to keep their games going. The increased totalisator returns all over the Dominion since the war started has been amazing, ami surely all true sports connected with the different racing clubs in the colony would be patriotic enough to donate all their ptofits 'to the war fund if required. “Whac Is money when millions are asking for food and thousands are dying > from wounds and millions are homeless?” The New Zealand Sports League executive evidently would sooner have the profits from the totalisator saved up for the wealthy owners, breeders, and high-ly-paid officials. The New Zealand Sports League would be doing something noble if they moved in the direction of having all race meetings abandoned for, say, six months, so that the thousands of ponnds that are being squandered on the totalisator may be devoted to the many deserving cases all over the world at the present time; and. further, let the authorities then make a move and compel the hundreds of young men, who do nothing else but follow the race meetings all over the country, go and fight for their King and country. The Prime Minister will please understand that the New Zealand Sports League prays that no further tax must be imposed on the totalisator, but they would not mind further taxation on the necessaries of life. The so-called Sports League claims that a further increase on the totnlisator would be playing into the hands of the bookmakers- How childish! Why, the law of the country says bookmakiug is illegal, therefore bookmakers should not exist. If they do. well, let the Sports League use their efforts, with the Minister for Justice, to compel the police to do their duty and suppress them, and likewise urge the PostmasterGeneral to prevent the telegraph and post offices all over the colony from being used for betting purposes. Thanks to the expeditionary force being stationed at Trentham. it is said that over .£30.000 passed through the totalisator at the last three 'Wellington race meetings. Where does this extra X3OOO profit go? Why. into the pockets of the wealthy owners who have won nearly JEIOO.OOO in stakes this season. And how- much, pray, have these wealthy squatters donated to the Belgium fund? I have not heard of one successful owner even donating .£IOO out of his winnings since the war started; while in

Australia we read of winning owners frequently giving as much as Jt'2ooo to the war fund out of their winnings. Mr J. Wren, at the Just Sydney Easier meeting, donated all tlio prize-money of the Doncaster Handicap, considerably over A'2ooo, to help the starving people iu Hclgium- A noble example for the wealthy owners iu New Zealand to follow if they have any charitable feelings at , all, instead of appealing that no further tax shall he placed on the totalisator.

If there is one thing more than another that should he taxed in New Zealand it is the totalisator, because nearly every race meeting since the war has increased their totalisator turnover. What is money when millions are starving and asking for food? —I am, etc., A PATRIOT.