THE COLONIST PUBLISHED DAILY-(MORNINGS). NELSON, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1889. THE TOTALISATOR.

Colonist, Volume XXXII, Issue 5522, 17 June 1889, Page 3

THE COLONIST PUBLISHED DAILY-(MORNINGS). NELSON, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1889. THE TOTALISATOR.

A telegram which appeared in our Friday's issue stated that the Government Gazette just published contained a notification that all licenses to nse the totalisator at race meetings are revoked as from July Ist next. It] appears that this has been understood by many to mean that the use of the totalisator ia to be prohibited after the end of this month, but such view ia entirely erroneous. Under the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1881, it was made lawful for the Colonial Secretary on the application of any racing club, to grant to such club a license or authority to use the totalisator at horse racing meetings held under the control of such jjolub, subject to certain conditions. Amongst the conditions is one that such license shall be revocable at any time the Colonial Secretary thinks fit to determine the same, either by written notice to the club, or by nttioe in the Gazette. It is evident that the revoca ioo now gazetted is in accordatoe with this proviiion. Experience has shown that in many cases the use of the totalisator has been abused in the direction that it has been utilised for the holding of at numberless little raoe meetings if •oat natta of tb* Colony,

and the larger jockey clubs besides sportsmen and others have objected. One objection to the use of the instrument in snch oases as those aliaded to 19 that it is merely mada an instrument of gambling, and that it therefore brings discredit upon its more icgiti* mate use at the recognised race meetings as a check upon book making, which is certainly more objectionable. While the existing Aoti remain in force licenses will continue to be issued for the nse of the totalisator at approved meetings, but evidently it is the intention of the Government that in the future it shall not be used at every small mooting that may be got ap for the purpose. During the last session of Parliament efforts were made by certain members with a view to the imposition of a special tax on totalisators, and should these efforts be renewed with success, it would of course be necessary that the permits to use the instrument should be on! different conditions, and that there hould be a revocation of existing licenses. The step which haß been taken may be in view of some probable change, and it is of course apparent that many object to the legalisation of the totalisator altogether. However, the right to u&e the machine is not prohibited by the notification alluded to.