THE MORAL QUESTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 38

THE MORAL QUESTION.

But of course the most hotly-debated phase of the question is the so-styled "moral" one. And here we are met with such a mass of uncharitable bigotry that controversy becomes exceedingly difficult, because one side not only is ignorant, but insists on remaining ignorant. The " moralists," in and out of Parliament, who inveigh against the machine have in nine cases out of ten never seen it work, or ever set foot on a racecourse. What is more, it is their boast that they never will. How, then, can one argue with such people? The attempt must be made, howevei'. They declare that inasmuch as the totalisator is an engine for gambling, therefore,it is necessarily evil. If gambling in any shape or form is a sin, what then is the position of the grocer who doubles his tea stock vi expectation of a new tariff? Of the farmer, who " holds " his produce for a rise? Of the land-buyer who speculates in suburban sections? Of the lawyer who takes shares in a joint-stock company? Of a parson who buys shares in a gold mine in the hopes of quadrupling his capital within the year. Of the prudent citizen who takes a wager of £100 to 12s 6d that hia house will not be burnt down within the year; or of £500 to £10 that he will not die in the next 12 months — in other words effects insurance on his house and his life for the benefit of his wife and cMldren? Clearly, all of tis "gamble " — i.e., speculate on future contingencies ; and unless every form of practical business is to be condemned, we must admit that gambling is not per se an evil, however much Aye may deplore excessive or reckless indulgence in it. Admitting, then, that men will venture on future events ; that most Englishmen regard bet Ling on races as a rational and natural form of amusement, and that racing provides a necessary relaxation, it is difficult to see why the totalisator should evoke so much opposition. As a method of wagering it has this tremendous advantage : — IT IS A CASH SYSTEM OF SPECULA> TION. It is only open on the course ; "' settling day. " is bef ore t not after the event ; and *

*nan aa a irule can only lose just as much money as he took out with him. The public are thus not likely to invest beyond their means. No one, be it remembered, is invited or tempted to invest. It is an absolutely voluntary ' system of obtaining a pecuniary interest on a race and taken as a whole it is a very healthy form of excitement. It may be true that here and there an individual invests beyond his means ; but that is not a fair- test ; as well denounce the whole of the clerical calling because one parson turns out to be a black sheep/ It would be interesting to learn how many of those who profess" to be opposed to this socalled iniquitous practice of the turf have lost money through gambling in gold mines. !As a matter of fact, for every one man who has got into trouble over the totalisator, fully 100 have come' to grief in gold mine and" share 1 speculations. These remarks have reference to the use of the totalisator by bona fide racing clubs, and not to the abuse of the principle by socalled "tote shops." There is as much difference between using the totalisator for a few hours in the year by -well-conducted racing clubs' and the open and continuous touting for bets carried on by the ■ " tote shops " as there is between playing an occasional game of whist for sixpenny points at the house of a friend and gambling for gold at a game of poker or cut-thxoat euchre with a Mexican eardsharnftr.