TOTALISATOR COMMISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 65

TOTALISATOR COMMISSION.

AUCKLAND, December 30. Sir George Clifford, 15 years president of the Riacing Conference, giving evidence before the New South Wales Totalisator Commission, strongly supported the tote as a means of reducing the volume of betting and improving the general status of racing. Inspector Cullen also strongly favoured the machine, as he was perfectiy satisfied that in confining the betting to those present on tho racecourse the Legislature had regulated gambling successfully. He was opposed to bookmakers either on or off the course.

All secretaries of racing and trotting clubs and other sportsmen present at the racing carnival who have given evidence before the commission this week have favoured the tote and the confining of betting to racecourses. Mr Levien, president of the New South Wales Total isator Commission, states that Mr John Eowe, president of the Auckland Trotting Club, and a member of the Racing Commission, gave strong reasons for the abolition of the bookmaker and the restriction of betting to the tote. Mr

Rowe said the machine was run entirely with a view to regulating betting. Effects had bsen impix>vement in the status of racing, in the financial position of clubs, in the prizes offered, and in the improvement of the racing stock of the country. He expressed the opinion emphatically that if the question went to a referendum of the people both bookmaker and tote would be abolished for all time.

Dr Bennett, many years president of the South Australian Jockey Club, who is now visiting Auckland., gave evidence of the successful working of the tote in his State. It was admitted there on all sides that the tote provided the most honest way of betting. He was satisfied that the tote had a restrictive influence, and was in every way preferable to the bookmaker. The absence of credit, betting was one of the strongest arguments in favour of the machine. The President expressed disappointment and surprise that those opposed to gambling had not responded to the invitation to place their views before the commission.

jaiJUiWJ' T. When the New South Wales Totalisator Commission resumed this morning Mr A. E. Glover, M.P., was the first witness examined. Mr Glover said that for 50 years he had been a resident of Auckland. Years ago he had been personally interested in the bookmaking business, and he knew it from A to Z. In his opinion the Gaming Act of 1910 abolishing the bookmakers was not in the best interests of the people of New Zealand as a whole. Evidence, he noticed, had been given before the commission largely in favour of the totalisator. He thought the totalisator catered only for one class. When the Gaming Bill was before Parliament he had said that it would lead to an increase in betting, and subsequent events had proved the truth of his statements. The huge increase in the totalisator receipts was, according to the racing clubs, due to the absence of the bookmakers, but that was not so. The clubs had fought for the abolition of the bookmaker so as to have all betting through the totalisator, thus enabling them to gather all the profits. Preceding legislation had laid a moral obligation on the racing clubs to license only reputable bookmakers. So as to bring the bookmakers as a body into disrepute the clubs had licensed men .who had absolutely no right to be allowed to operate. In his opinion the totalisator was the greatest incentive to gambling that the world had ever known. An occasional startling dividend of, say, £l5O caused lots of people to think that totalisator betting was an easy way of making money. The witness added that he thought gambling was inherent in human nature, and could not be stamped tint by legislative measures. Patrick Nash, a contractor, said that after considerable experience of horse racing he condemned the totalisator as being too costly to the public. Henry W. Wilding, public accountant and auditor, said that he had filled different positions in connection with the accountancy of the totalisator business. As to evidence regarding touting for the totalisator, he said this could not have been done without his knowledge, and he was convinced that the gentleman who gave the evidence was misinformed. Again, the rate of commission was so small that it certainly would not pay to disburse money for collecting money. He was satisfied there was no touting. On being questioned as to the amount of unclaimed money put on the totalisator, the witness said that out of £IO,OOO at the recent Ellerslie meeting only £4 10s remained unclaimed, and he supposed that would be called for next day. The commission concluded the hearing of evidence in Auckland this morning, and will leave to-morrow fox Rotorua, where further evidence will be taken.

January 6.

Members of the New Soujth Wales Totalisator Commission left this morning for Rotorua, on their way to Wellington. . _ Mr Levien, interviewed, said that much valuable evidence had been taken in Auckland. He' could say nothing with regard to the views of the commission. Mr Bruntnell said he did not think that the New South Wales Government favoured the introduction of the totalisator. Personally, he thought the commission's report might result in a referendum. If so, he believed that the bookmaker would be abolished and the totalisator established.

Mr Fitzpatrick said he thought that neither the Government nor the Opposition in New South Wales wanted to legislate in favour of the totalisator. Personally, he did not think the commission's investigation would result in a referendum. If so, he believed it would result in the people rejecting both the totalisator and the bookmaker. The commissioners were impressed with the remarkable orderliness and sobriety of the great crowds at the Auckland races. The volume of open betting would give the commission something to cogitate over for the rest of their tour.

The commission will spend several days at Rotorua. and then go to Wellington and Christehurch.

ROTORUA. January 6.

The Totalisator Commission sat here to-day. F. S. Wootton, butcher, Christchurch, owner of trotting horses, said he did not bet, but favoured the totalisator before the bookmakers. The revenue from the machine allowed clubs to increase their stakes, which led to an improved breed of horses. The machine wae a fairer medium of betting and made for cleaner sport. Short events were run because the public wanted, quicker and faster runs, and they were not put on programmes for the purpose of affording additional facilities for gambling. Trotting did not flourish without the totalisator. Bookmakers flourished despite the law. The pure sport of trotting -would

not attract people; they wanted facility to put their half-crown on. TPe second dividend assisted the small oivner by recompensing him for nearly getting there. January 8. Before the Totalisator Commission today Sir Robert Stout said he considered

the only way to put down gambling was by a strong public opinion. He did not favour the introduction of the totalisator into Australia. Racing, he considered, did not prove a valuable adjunct to the social life. If the State thought it wrong to allow lotteries, there should be no .gambling permitted. Gambling was an injury to the race, and should be put down. The bookmaker had got such a hold on the young people of New Zealand in the past that the Government had to step in and abolish him. He regarded the bookmaker as a parasite. In reply to a question Sir Robert Stout said he thought that if the totalisator were introduced into Australia more women would be inclined to bet than was the case at present. A lottery meant that some person was gaining something at the expense of some other person. Ho considered that a great number of people stayed away from races at the present, time owing to the gambling element. A person could get sport without getting it at the expense of somebody else. He believed that if 'Australia abolished the bookmaker and replaced him by the totalisator gambling would not decrease, but would in fact increase. He was absolutely opposed to gambling in any form. The gambling spirit had increased enormously during the last 40 years. Credit betting wa6 worse than cash betting. If the. public conscience was not as yet sufficiently advanced to put down all gambling the proper thing to do was to put it down as much as possible. PALMERSTON N., January 14. , The members of the New South Wales Totalisator Commission arrived here on Saturday, and were yesterday taken over the Manawatu Raoing Club's course at Awapuni, and also visited the Highden stables and the Cloverlea stables, the latter owned by D. Buick, M.P. TOTALISATOR REVENUE. RELATION TO STAKES CFHOi! OIIR OWH COB.JIF.SPOKDEWT.) GREYMOUTH, January 8. As a result of the increased revenue from the totalisator at the recent meeting, the Westland Racing Club will have to add a good margin to its next year's stakes. The Rules of Rsc::.g provide that no club ehall give a less sum in stakes than the net amount derived from the use of the totalisator during the previous year. As this year's income will show a substantial increase, the stakes must be correspondingly added to.