“WISE DECISION”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27026, 10 March 1949, Page 6

“WISE DECISION”

RACING MEN PLEASED BLOW TO BOOKMAKERS Mr J. E. Brunton, who has taken a prominent part in advocating the offcourse betting scheme, and who is master of the Otago Hunt, a steward of the Forbury. Park Trotting Club, and a well-known owner, told the Daily Times last night that- the result came as a “ pleasant surprise.”. He added that he had given a great deal of thought to the scheme as put forward and he had ho doubt that thepublic made a wise decision.” “ The illegal bookmaker has for years oeen a menace to the pockets and the morals of the general public,” Mr Brunton said. “His nefarious business should now be doomed.” He felt sure that the Racing and Trotting Conferences would exercise strict control in operating the new scheme so as to avoid the dangers and the pitfalls feared by its opponents, “It must be gratifying to the administrators of our laws and the guardians of our moral well-being that people will now be able to indulge in their harmless desires without breaking our accepted legal and moral codes,” he said, in conclusion./ “Great Thing for the Sport”

“I am very pleased about the result,” commented Mr B. S. Irwin, president of the Otago Trotting Club and the Otago Hunt Club, and a steward of the Dunedin Jockey Club. “I think it will be a great thing for the sport—for owners, the public and the clubs.

“ I know some people are rather disturbed about the cost of the scheme. Mr Irwin continued. “There will certainly be some extra cost to the clubs, but the commendable feature is that the public will not have to pay. The grand feature of the scheme is that the off-course bettor will get the full totalisator odds, which he certainly has never had before. It is safe to say that the greater portion of off-course betting will be diverted to legal channels, and the bookmaker, even if he survives, will, not find it worth while attempting to do business.” The president of the Dunedin Jockey Club, Mr L. C. Hazlett, said that the only comment he wished to make last night was that to carry out the scheme efficiently would require a good deal or organisation. “It will not be possible to do this without a good deal of thought being given to the matter. . One thing the scheme should do,” Mr Hazlett added, “will be to oust the bookmaker.”