BETS BY WIRE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10561, 12 April 1920, Page 5

BETS BY WIRE

THE NEW RULES SOME EXPLANATIONS AND SOME POSSIBILITIES. It is considered by the Postal authorities that the new regulations which were gazetted last week . will have tho effect of considerably reducing the volume of any betting that was being clone with the aid of postal and telegraphic facilities. The general opinion among those who take a passing interest iu tho matter is that there is little new in the regulations, but one of the postal chiefs assured a "Times" representative yesterday that that was not by any means tho official view. First of all the regulations pertaining to telegrams run: — (1) Telegrams in plain language relating to betting or to investment on tho totalisator, or in coded language reasonably supposed to relate to betting or to investments on tho totalisator.

(2) Money-order telegrams addressed to a racing club, or to a secretary or other officer, agent, or servant of a racing club, relating to investments on the totalisator.

(3) Any money-order telegram addressed to any person who has been convicted in a court of law under the Gaming Act, 190 S, or any amendment thereof, of any iffenee relating to betting' or to investments on the totalisator.

"Previously," said the official referred to, "we were not able to* prohibit the sending of telegrams at all, except telegrams addressed to persons convicted of bookmnrting. Now wo have power to stop any telegram at all if ft relates to betting. This means that a man cannot now send a wire to a bookmaker making a bet on a horse. Further, he could not- telegraph to a friend to book him a bet on a- race, and he cannot even advise a friend bv telegraph that ho thinks a certain horse will win. Any telegrams whatever, whether in code or iu plain language, we are empowered to stop if it relates to betting.

"Previously we could not refuse to provide, private letter boxes for Anyone, except convicted persons. Now our powers are extended" and ire enn cut off the- boxes of persons reasonablysupposed to be using them for the purnose of carrying on betting business. The same applies to telephones. "There is reallv a great deal that is new in last week's regulations, for they extend our powers very greatly." "ACROSS THE WIRES." Before . these regulations came into force there was nothing to prevent the average citizen from telegraphing bets to layers of odds, and n; .is said that the popularity of betting is such, that a good volume of business was done across the wires, both telephone and telegraph. Those who desire to stop betting are of the oninion that the new regulations will be highly effective. Others say that if betting is so universal as its* opponents allege there are likely to bo difficulties in the way. The regulations are now actually- in force, if not operative. So far as is known no 'phones or mail boxes have yet been cut off, but it would not be surprising to hear of such occurrences during the week. DEPARTMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS REGULATIONS IN OPERATION. The following instructions have been forwarded by the head office Wellington to all [telegraph and telephone offices in the Dominion: — "The acceptance of any telegram relating to betting is now prohibited. The words 'addressed to any person on a racecourse' and 'whether addressed to a racecourse or elsewhere,' are to be deleted from section 33 (b) and (e) respectively, page 339 of the guide. "Paragraph (d) is to be amended to read as follows: 'Any money-order telegram addressed to any person who has been convicted in a court of law under the Gaming Act, 1908, or any amendment thereof, of any offence relating to betting or investments on the totalisator.' "Strict attention is to be paid to the regulation, which is operative immediately. As hitherto, officers in charge are authorised to determine whether any telegram comes within the definition given in paragraphs b, c, and d.'' •