PARI-MUTUEL PROPOSED.

NZ Truth, Issue 602, 30 December 1916, Page 9

PARI-MUTUEL PROPOSED.

A meeting of the English Jockey Club, at which ..there were present Liord Jersey, Sir John Thursby, Mr. A. James, Sir W, Bass, Lord Haxewood, Sir R. W. B. Jardlne, Captain Lalng, Lord Lonsdale, Sir B. Pag-et, and Lord Wolverton, was , held late In October, for tho sole purpose of considering a petition presented by Mr. E. Hulton and others m favor of the introduction on racecourses under the Jurisdiction of the Jockey Club, of tho pari-mutuel system, of betting. The parl-mutuel was asked for on three main grounds — that its Introduction will provide revenxio for assisting breeders and owners m the form of added money and premiums, for assisting State light horse- breeding, and that It will assist In raising the moral tone of racing. The original petition was stolon In Ireland, but a faithful record of tho signatories was kept. Lord Jersey stated that the stewards bad given the mari ter very careful consideration, and they wero strongly of opinion that, with duo r&spect for what waa suggested m the petition, the time was certainly not opportune for such a discussion. Was It likely that the State authorities would, at a Umo like this, undertake, or even consider, a BOherno which would undoubtedly promote a great deal of adverso criticism, and meet with very strenuous opposition? He also f&lt that \ tills was certainly not tho moment to bring turf matters into needless pro- ■ minenco, especially In connection with betting. Ho ventured to suggest that, to Invite- tuiy consideration of. a question Uko that under existing cJrcirmatances would bo deliberately* to play Into tho hands of tho opponents of the turf. It was felt, and very rightly felt, that the Government should, as far as possible, concentrate all their attention en matters Immediately connected with the eucceiwful prosecution of the war, and for thoso reasons the stewards could not recommend tho club to ohsociato Itself at present In any way with a proposition such as that now laid boforo it. In saying that, he thought tho members should make It clear that they did not record a vote adverso to tho system of paH-mutuol betting:. Tho potltton stated, among other things, that "the principle In operation could not fall to bo of healthy and moral benefit to horse- racing." It waa not Quito so cloar, wild Lord Jersey, what was meant by thnt. It would certainly bo very Interesting to"fcenr tho arguments which influenced tho signatories In arriving at that conclusion, and to loam from them the relative morality of. «ay, Chantllly and Longchamps as against Epsom and Ascot.