DIVIDING THE PRIZE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3888, 18 September 1928, Page 60

DIVIDING THE PRIZE.

THE “TOTE.” LONDON, July 27. Extracts of the speech made annually by the Hon. W. Pember Reeves at the meeting of the National Bank of New Zealand are always used by the press throughout the United Kingdom, and one constantly reads portions of his comments that have appeared in quite remote places. Mr Reeves covers so wide a range of subjects that excerpts are possible to suit the varying tastes of readers in numerous localities. The result is very valuable publicity for the Dominion. Perhaps this year Mr Reeves’s most popular phrase has proved to be the quotation from Pope—“ The Devi 1 and 4i<> King divide the prize.” The “ Tote ” Bill has been one of the most discussed top.es up and down the country, and his comments were therefore quite timely. One factor which has influenced opinion in favour of the Bill has been the wholesale evasion of the recently imposed bets duty The Chancellor of the Excheauer has pressed for the “ tote ” on that account. He wishes to ensure his racing revenue. A timely illustration of the uses of the totalisator as a revenue-producer was (say’s the News of the World) given by Mr W. Pember Reeves. “As most of you knew.” said Mr Reeves, “ one of the taxes levied in New Zealand is that on bets through the totalisator at race meetings. The amount of money passing through these machines is very large, and is worth watching, as an indication of the fluctuations in trade and prosperity. For example, the amount invested during the 12 months ended July 31, 1927. was £7,553,000, which was about £1.050,000 less than the figures for the previous year, and was undoubtedly an index of trade depression. Of this £7.500,000, £6.422,000 was returned to the public in dividend*: the balance, £1,130,000, went in almost equal shares to the jockey clubs and the Government; and so, to quote a line from Pope, ‘ The Devil and the Ki,ng divide the prize.’ The issue of licenses to the clubs to use’ totalisator machines rests with the Government, and. as no betting with bookmakers is allowed, the Parliament of the country retains the power to restrict betting by reducing the number of licenses.” It is worthy of not-: that the population of Now Zealand is only a million n"d

In conversation recently with - the ranger of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society (Mr J. S. Main), a Timaru Herald representative was informed that the prospects for the coining fishing season, which will onen on October 1, are unusually bright. Mr Main said that there had been no floods in the rivers to disturb the fish when they were spawning, and in addition to this the rivers were well stocked, and there was plenty of feed in them. “ ... ue t.—ment of an English tourist in Germany is honest and kindly, which is more than can be said of some of the other European countries,” said Mr F. T. Boyce, a Christchurch business man, who has just returned from a trip abroad, to a representative of the Christchurch Press. “ A New, Zealander, however, is not often met with, and no one I happened to meet on the Continent had heard of Christchurch. I hope that has now been corrected in a few cases.” A letter from the Under-secretary of Internal Affairs received by the Wellington Accliinatisation Society the other night, asked that two pukeko be taken monthly by the society from (a) the vicinity of crops; (b) from swamp' lands distant from crops, and the stomachs (full directions for the packing of which were enclosed) sent to the director of agriculture (says the Post). Permission, to be renewed at intervals for the 12 months. was~enriosed in the form of a warrant it was decided •to comply with the request.