THE TOTALISATOR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10960, 28 December 1911, Page 3

THE TOTALISATOR.

NEW SOUTH WALES COMMISSION

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, December 27. Among the visitors to yesterday's races at Ellerslie were the members of the New South Wales Totalisator Commission. Mr H. Levien, M.L.A., who is the father of the New South Wales State Parliament, had some interesting observations to make this morning when seen by a reporter. The commission, Mr Levien said, was loud in .its appreciation of the all-round excellence of the arrangements of yesterday for such a. large "crowd, and they thought it remarkable that everything should have passed off with such absolute smoothness. Mr Levien felt justified in saying that there was not that inducement to bet where the ring was not inviting the public to come forward and accept attractive odds. # seemed to him that the presence of the tote was in this way preferable to the bookmaker, and tended to make the racing more attractive. Questioned regarding tho activities of the commission, Mr. Levien said that they were now going into the business wliich had brought them to New Zealand, and had already taken a certain amount of evidence. A number of prominent people had promised to come forward and give them the fullest particulars possible, and it was intended to ask one or two representatives of leading churches to give their evidence. The commission was to inquire (1) whether the tote really increased gambling; (2) whether it provided a' fairer means of betting for the public; (3) whether it is best that it should be under State control; and (4) whether the means derived from it (it the machine be established) should be devoted purely to racing. The difficulty in New South- Wales, he added, was that in New South. Wales there were a number of proprietary clubs, and the extension of the tote to such courses was in itself a problem. That, however, was a matter for legislation, lhecommission will remain in Auckland until nest week.