THE NEW GAMING LAW.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10716, 15 March 1911, Page 4

THE NEW GAMING LAW.

POSITION OF BOOKMAKERS. (Pee Pkess association.)" Auckland, Sfarcli 14. Tli'e bookmaker oil his cwii admission is like the poor. He is always, and be always, with' us, so,long as men bet, "and it. appears; they jetted.and, always' "will bet. ; There/-ratist be a tliird man to'adjust the odds aijjl the. risk'V. (for, '•*- -C.onsideralaoh), but though'tlie bookie that lie will not go altogether, - a great number of the profession "are shaking the dust of the Dominion off their feet. Ihe Gaming Act, by shutting "the profession" on the racecourses, dealt a severe blow to the lesser lights, and many of them have already departed for the- more open-hearted, shores of Australia, to take their chances of finding an opening for their talents, but very: many of the better known pericillers remain to ply' their calling, according to "their skill arid'consciences, outside the bounds set by law. The position, -taken tip by the i#)okmaker to justify h'is action: is based upon the fabfc that 'people want;'to Bet ;_ that bookrmaking. can be carried- oh 1 ''without breaking the law; and that if We old "firms" broke'up'i after M "some cases 30 years in" business, they would, be iihablc'td take lip any other vocation. "It's not for the living 'we- do/ it," said oho of the fraternity. "It's 'for the sport;.; It's a game like : wrftiiig for the newspapers; and" ire can't drop it." '"l , 'iii - th"erinbre, he . attempted; ;;ffieweak justificatioh of blaming the bthermen. "I"d6n''t : 'fie;e,'' he said;. "that, there is iinicfi , differehce betw.eeii bacfing a horse'you fancy' and backiri'g the unearned ..'increment". "If y'pu"buy a farm ybu'.'dbri't" usually expect to make your money by digging it: You're looking "but tor someone to.-'sell it to." The bookmaker proceeded to', let, his interiii on tlie ground floor. "It isn't'against the law tb';b'et," he said. "tVe can't, bet in a public house, or in a street, but we can het in shopsi when wd happen, to meet our and we always know "who we are'dealing with, and no money passes. As "a matter of fact, Pvc done more. b'iisirie§s since we were, put off the. course than."b'efbre. It's nob so expensive as. payigg,j£2o a day license fee. . You'd be surprised at tine range of my.;customers.■".,'.THey go all. ihe t .way from Mihislers,of lie Grown tor—well, ,not to ministers .oj the church —we i }?aycn't got thai far r they iijcliicle.aJtl sorts of people, down to whar,f, laborers." ~■■• ... „",. , What 34 "you w au't to go away for? he was M asked. ,-..,..< ... '■"."-'.' ,"i.,dph't, Ii r ke th£ method,"' fie anj."Every Has. %'.. fictitious" name. JWe have,.to So everything underhand, aiid it. goes, against thegrain." - ..... _„-. -.-.^