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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 197, 24 September 1914, Page 6

Mr George Hunter's Gaming Act Amendment BUI has, after a protracted passage, at last reached the Statute Book. The measure materially increases the number of tctalisator permits in country districts, and,, as urged by the promoter of the Bill, it should assist towards improving the breed of good class horses in the Dominion. Some member's who voted for the-.measure .expressed the opinion that there were too many racing days in the big centres, and argued, that a redistribution of permits would secure the machine for the country clubs. If these clubs in the country districts hud to rely on this for their totalisator permits, they would never obtain them. Mr Hunter's Bill should remove a'l injustice that was imposed on a number of deserving clubs when the allocations were made some time ago. It is rather hard on those settlers in the country districts who race for sport and are truly instrumental in breeding, say, excellent remounts, that they should have been forced to do without the machine for so long. The totalisator means bigger prizes, and, as a.rule, a better stamp of animal. It encourages the farmer to have more regard for the breeding of his hacks. And s; with huat clubs. These are the uurser-

ies of our best steeplechasers. The decently-bred horse that has been hunted for two or three seasons, when he is put into active service on the track, is usually as safe a conveyance as could be desired. With the totalisator permits allocated as they are, it simply means that the breeding of the best class of horses is monopolised by a handful of wealthy men. The ideal is, in these days when good cavalry mounts are more or less a scarcity, to adjust matters so that the men in the backbloeks who arc keen on a good hack or two should be encouraged to breed such animals. This can best be brought about by granting more permits to run the machine. The antigambling element will no doubt protest earnestly against the passage of Mr Hunter's Bill, but the fact remains that if it realises expectations—and we believe it wilL—it will benefit .considerably the most deserving sportsmen in the community.