CHEAPER RACING ADVOCATED

Southland Times, Issue 23828, 27 May 1939, Page 10

CHEAPER RACING ADVOCATED

Southland Support For 5/- Unit

DEFINITE MOVE MAY BE MADE

Great interest has been shown in the suggestion made at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club that the New Zealand Racing Conference should insist on a minimum investment of 5/- on the totalizator and it is possible that some definite move will be made. The 5/- unit was given a trial by northern clubs some time ago but it was soon abandoned. However, there is now a feeling that there is a demand for a reduced minimum wager as in other countries. Some importance has been given the Christchurch suggestion and in Southland in particular it has been sympathetically received.

The president of the Southland Racing Club, Mr W. T. Hazlett, who has had extensive experience in racing affairs in Australia, has for some years been a keen advocate for cheaper racing. At the last annual meeting of the club Mr Hazlett pointed out that the time was ripe for the installation of a 5/- totalizator in spite of the opposition from totalizator proprietors. He did not suggest that the Southland club should be the first to make such a move but contended that it was a reform which would have to come. IN OTHER COUNTRIES

In support of his suggestion Mr Hazlett stated at the time: “Installation of the 2/6 unit on totalizators in Sydney would, it is estimated, increase the working expenses from approximately 4 per cent, to 6 per cent. In England,

where there is a 2/- unit, the overhead expenses amount to 8 per cent. There, however, conditions are different and the costs would not be so high in Sydney. Totalizator officials are against any change to a lower unit than 5/-. They say that there are many difficulties not apparent to the layman, and if a 2/6 totalizator is insisted on the public will be the, losers, for there will be an additional drain on the pool each time. An additional 2 per cent, over, all would mean a decided loss to the investing public. Actually, dividends would be le.ss by more than 2 per cent. If there is a 2/- totalizator in England and a 5/- totalizator all over Australia, it is time we attempted something in this direction. We get no support from the totalizator proprietors, who say that it cannot be done, but if other countries can do it there is no reason why we cannot do the same.” It is understood that other Southland clubs also discussed the introduction of a 5/- unit, while several of the committee of the Southland Racing Club favoured Mr Hazlett’s suggestion. At one time last season there was a possibility that the 5/- totalizator would be introduced in Southland, but those advocating this reform have evidently preferred to wait. The opinion was expressed by one official yesterday that if a move was made by the Canterbury Jockey Club other clubs would soon follow and the move would find much support in Southland. DUNEDIN OPINION From inquiries made it would appear unlikely that either of the Dunedin clubs will take the initiative in the matter remarks The Otago Daily Times. An official of the Forbury Park Trotting Club stated that there was no great demand for / such a change apparent at the present time but times were changing, and if the public showed clearly enough that it wanted a five-shilling totalizator, clubs would have to provide one. It really rested with the bettine public to effect the change if it really desired it. One argument against a five-shilling minimum which was advanced was the alacrity with which certain northern clubs abandoned the idea after a brief trial. The system had never been in operation ir. the South Island, and the opinion was hazarded that its adoption now would cause a heavy decline in the totalizator figures of small racing clubs, which had already suffered as a result of the introduction of tenshilling betting. If the lower minimum had en in the interests of either racing clubs or totalizators, it was suggested, it would never have been allowed to lapse, and it was stated with equal emphasis that if the public had been greatly in favour of it they would have seen to it that it was continued.

An interesting viewpoint with respect to the proposal was voiced in one quarter. “Why should totalizator proprietors or racing clubs go to the expense of more selling windows, additional ticket vendors, and the printing of more tickets to encourage a system of. betting already largely used?” it was asked. “Thousands of people in New Zealand are betting in five-shilling wagers now, the only difference being that the clubs have the public working for them. When people make up their pound and ten-shilling tickets they are doing for themselves exactly what it would cost the club or the machine money to do for them.”