BOOKMAKERS GRIEVANCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10599, 20 February 1896, Page 3

BOOKMAKERS GRIEVANCES.

TO THE EDITOB. • Sib, —Nothing appalled me "more than to see "human individuals" lurking round the baok 'shelters- of the Forbury coarse to-d»y seeking an existence as bookmakers. The majority of those bookmakers, to my knowledge (aud I have been a resident of Dunedin for 33 years), have had to resort to this means through slackness ef trade. I have been an absentee from Dunedin for over five years, aud I natnrally requested an explanation from those individuals. Answer: "Oh, sir, & resolution passed by tbe Dunedin Jockey Club." " Well, then," said I, " why do yoa «ot present your grievance to the acting Colonial Secretary in writing, and probably you .will receive redress?" "Oh," said the individual addressed, " we were going to do so, but the following, wa occupy, makes na think that our agitation wonld have no weight with the member of Cabinet mentioned."

Well, Sir, they are wrong, because the Go> vernnient of the day are the representatives of the people as a whole, and that tribunal is returned to power in the interests of liberality and to put down monopoly, and if ever there were an instance of monopolisation it ia being pursued at the present time by tho D.J.C.; aod bookmakers, you are composed of a certain amount of intelligence, and the. most intelligent of you I beseech you to appeal ta the individual mentioned in this correspondence and protect tbe present Government from being accused of not dealingfairly with all individuals, no matter what respectable following thej pursu..

I tell the bookmakers again to make their grievances known to headquarters at Wellington, and I think in all common fakneis tbey will receive justice. All these littie rant-— bookmakers, &c. —will tend to militate against the Government of the day shonld the false impression cast upon them be not rectified, as a portion, if not tbe majority, of the D.J.C. is composed of the enemies of the pregeot Govern-' meat. .

Sir, I hope though yonr paper ia opposed to tbe present Administration, aod also Bering that your (porting writer, "Mjizeppa," of tbe Witness is advocating the rights of the aggrieved individuals, and that I am a disinterested person regarding the bookmakers, for I never wager a shilling, I trust 70U will insert this letter.—l am, &0.,

February 19.

CossisnafCTCr

— The rocky, wild, and lonely defile-in tho parish of Bakjuhidder, Perthshire, through - which the Callander and Oban railway nms.bas reminded travellers of tta Khrber Pais in North-eastern Afrhiniati*.