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Otago Witness, Issue 3061, 13 November 1912, Page 3

It is almost incredible, but it is a fact, that during the 12 months ended October 3 the supporters of horse-racing in this country paid no less than £302,448 for the privilege of running their money through the betting machine. Of this amount the State took £75,611 15s lOd. Surely (says the Marten Advocate) this contribution to sport is an enormous drain on the resources of the people, and cannot fail to have a baneful effect on industry. It would be impossible to raise such a sum by canvassing for even the most generally beneficial object, but it is given freely by those who probably number less than one-fourth of the population. Is it surprising that the tradesman finds Lb difficult to obtain cash when so much is diverted from legitimate trade (,o mere speculation through a machine which works only on a cash Iris's and gives no credit. ?