Truth SOME SLIMY SCALERS.

NZ Truth, Issue 135, 18 January 1908, Page 4

Truth

SOME SLIMY SCALERS.

Published Every Saturday Morning at Luke's Lane (off Mannersstreet), WELLINGTON, N.Z. Subscription (m advance), 13s, per annum. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1908.

'Bookmakers now seem to 1 have a legal status m this country, and it is not an unwise move on their part to form an association primarily, of course, to protect their own interests and to insure- the pencilling fraternity some shadow of justice from racing clubs that are treating Gaming Legislation with' very scant respect. Practically speaking, bookmakers, the reputable kind, of course, are now m a position to make their voices heard and to command attention, if not respect, from the Government. Now, it is not for "Truth" to dictate or to outline what a Bookmaker's Association attitude to outsiders ought to be. They want the public With them, and with the public benind them the Association ought to see to it as far as it is m their power that the sporting or punting public get a fair deal every time.- Since bookmakers have been ' placed on the' same scale as fish and fruit hawkers, we all know what bickerings there have been with various clubs. Some have been liberal, others have rendered themselves liable to the frown of the Government. - Some bookies have found it convenient to adopt an honorable course and to pay exorbitant license fees without a murmur, hoping for better treatment m the near future. There are plenty of honorable men, whose word is^their bond, m the metallicians' ranks. Paying out without a murmur, they ho]\e to establish a connection. This, too, m the face of the "tote's" popularity.. But there is /another set-off, and the Rookies' Association ought to lend an car. Everywhere all over the country complaints arc loud and long against a number of sealers, who, havr-g paid their license fees, set out rooking right and left.' At ono recent . PH-cting ono gentleman of Ihe bag ,'delibrra(ely cut his name off his cards awl bet fabulous odds, and when the "mugs" came round to rollrc! the tickets were repudiated. This is only one sample of the slimy scaling that has hee.n goinpc on. : and. naturally.;- in several country towns, the very suggestion of a- bookmaker is bailed with scorn and abuse. The turf is alwa3 r s responsible for parasites' of the meanest a.nrl lowest type. These gently woul^ rob their parents, uncles and aunts without a blush, and. it is this Ra-mc class of ■rogue who follows the turf thaf'makes. ■the very name of bookmaker stink. On a racecourse now: what guarantee has a client that he is dealing with an h-nnest. bookmaker ? Will a racing club hold itself responsible for . ,' a sealer's debt? No fear. Then who is to guarantee tbe public that 'alt .is .fat::' and square ? Nobody but \ the Pookmakers' Association. If it keeps a black list and posts defaulters and black-balls rooks and rogues It wil! do much to T'id the game of its undesirables. If it does not make a determined stand ■ against the rooks, tlien the pub lit- will finally decline to be rooked any longer and will abhor bookmakers altogether and cut them- dead; and will doits business with the tote. If this should happen then the reputable, books will only hare themselves to blame.