THE LURE OF BETTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 7

THE LURE OF BETTING

PART OF NATIONAL LIFE. BRITISH COMMITTEE'S REPORT. TAXATION RECOMMENDED. Free* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 9. The Betting Committee’s report says; “A large section of the public will not consider that betting is a crime, or that it is oven morally wrong. The yearly turnover of betting transactions is £200,000,000, on which the bookmakers’ profits are £2,000,000. It is only by State control that the evils of betting can be curtailed and modified.” The report adds: “In its present state the law is confused and inconsistent. A rich man can bet to any extent withou penalty because of his ability to obtain credit; but a poor man is liable to ci innnal penalties, as is the bookmaker, ibis inequality produces a strong teelmg ot resentment among large numbers of the population. . “The committee, is of opinion that betting is ingrained in the Anglo-Saxon character, and that its prohibition is impracticable. The State would not be giving its imprimatur by registration or taxation, un the contrary, taxation would assist in decreasing many of the evils of the practice. A tax of 2i per cent, would produce probably £5,000,000 yearly, portion ot which mi"ht be used to encourage horse breeding Totalisators and parimutuels should be legalised on racecourses.” The report emphasises that the street bookmaker must be eliminated. The committee declares that the streets m - towns are infested by bookmakers agents which leads to the continual breaking ot the law, the demoralisation of ch-wmler, and the weakening of respect for ; The* industrial districts are permeated with illegal betting-houses kept under the guise of small businesses, such as hairdressers, tobacconists, news agents com factioners, and booksellers, also been established a system of canvassing artisan households during the absence of the husband and inducing women U bet which is most pernicious, because it can' be done onlv on housekeeping money. Women use their children to carry betting slips, which leads to bettine on their own account. 11ns en tails 4eat danger to the rising generation. The street bookmakers have perfected a Astern giving them practical immunity under the existing law. The report says: Pew of the pole are equipped with the mentality necessary 7or the detection of betting, while they hate the work, as they bet themselves whim off duty. Betting is increasing among women, notably domestics and te - tile workers. There is hardly one estab lishment in the country employing JO Srlnd over, rrhick is »ot soppj.ed with bookmakers’ agents. —A. and JN.A. Cable.

In May of last year a Select Committee of the House of Commons, consisting of 11 Conservatives, four Labour membe s, two Independent Liberals, and National Liberals, was appointed to consider the question of imposing a duty on betting and to report whether such a duty is desirable and practicable. The committee held lengthy sittings aud h(*rd much interesting evidence dealing with various phases cf betting, witnesses be ng called wlio were able to discuss the subject iu all its bearings.