"POINTING" PENCILLERS.

NZ Truth, Issue 82, 12 January 1907, Page 2

" POINTING " PENCILLERS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — In a previous issue of '•Truth" you made ■ reference to punters not meeting their obligations to the bookmakers. As the information must have reached you from the latter source, on. behalf of backers I wish to give particulars of a recent occurrence which will show that fair dealing is not always acted tip to by layers themselves. Chr tho last day cf the Hawke's Bay meeting a horse named Sweet Helen appeared on the card issued by the books 'as Lady flelen. There was ,*no such horse as, the latter m the race, nor is thore such a one m existence m New Zealand, yet backers of the former, which won, whose bets' were looked as Lady, Helen were told their horse was scratched and were not j.&id. On previous occasions vnere tfiere has been a slight discrepancy, between the names appearing and the correct one, the layers have at all times given themselves the benefit of the doubt when the horse m question has been a loser; and had Sweet Helen lost m the present instance, judging by past happenings, backers would have had to pay. Thus one could lose without having a winning ; chance. Does this come under the heading of all bets P.P., or are we betting with sealers ?— -Yours etc., IN THE SCALES. . (From inquiries made I learn that three of the leading local firms accepted money on Lady Helen and refused to pay, their argument being that the filly was scratched, Now,, there is not a horse named Lady Helen racing m this colony, and under these circumstances it is impossible that she could be' scratched. The bookmakers evidently got inside what they fel-t> was a pretty high fence. Doubtless they thought Sweet Helen was likely to fail, but as an alternative they would have, an excuse to evade payment. One of the bookmakers,, '(questioned on the subject, delivered a very evasive reply, and the only conclusion to arrive at is that it was a deliberate attempt on the part of these firms to bring; off. a scale. I might mention that one f f the local pencillers held a good amount on Sweet Helen and paid to the last; penny, The action of his fellow pencillers can only serve to briny discredit, on the fraternity and add. strength to the agitation for .tjheir suppression.— "Spearmrat.") ./<'■