THE GAMING BILL

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1929, Page 5

THE GAMING BILL

WILL IT BECOME LAW:

(By

“Moturoa.”)

A prominent place on the agenda paper of the Parliament at present sitting in Wellington is the Gaming Bill, again introduced by Sir George’Hunter, but the chances of this measure reaching the statute book are said to be very remote. Why this should be so is beyond the comprehension of the sportsman, but unfortunately members of the House of Representatives—no matter how they accept the hospitality of racing clubs—aro not all sportsmen. Of the Gaming Bill, Sir George Clifford wrote in his report to the racing conference:—“lf the Government should, during the coming session, introduce the long desired Gaming Amendment Bill,, they will receive our gratitude, as well as of the important body or sportsmui who do so much to keep alive the vigour of th© nation.” Sir George sums up arguments in favour of the Bill as follows: “We look for the removal of the wholly absurd prohibition of the publication of dividends, which serves no good purpose, and assists the law-breaking bookmaker. Why should the public and the newspapers be shut off from news which lawbreakers circulate freely among themselves and to their confederates? We desire permission to remit investments on the totalisator to clubs on race days. Telegraph facilities are -given to lawbreakers. Why not to law-abiding citizens? It should not be forgotten that the totalisator cannot tempt by giving credit, cannot lay contracted odds, and cannot refuse ccmmissions, but gives equal fair play to all. The law at present debars.the bookmaker from following his trade; it is illogical to leave open to him the practical monopoly of it beyond the precincts of the racecourse. With provision for telegraphing investments on the totalisator to secretaries of racing clubs, the investor would escape from the limited prices and barred horses of the bookmakers, who contribute no revenue to the State or to racing. Restrictions which foster illegal betting and create disrespect for the law and its administration are highly undesirable anj should be repealed.’’ While the Racing Conference is unanimous in respect to its demands for full publicity regarding dividends —ail for the public’s benefit, we are told — it is strangely inconsistent in its opposition to radio broadcasting of information regarding racing. The executive committee expressed itself as against broadcasting, and the chairman (Mr. O. S. Watkins) moved accordingly. His motion was carried, but by what majority the official report does not say. If that is the racing conference’s opinion, then the lesi said- about the publication of dividends for the benefit of the public the better. The w’riter is well aware that certain persons have at times benefited by information divulged by wireless, but “the air” is open to all, and there has often been another side to that argument. If racing clubs expect to receive telegraphed commissions it will be to their advantage to wireless scratchings, etc., at the earliest possible moment. But apart from that, wireless is enjoyed by all classes of the community, whether their favourite pastime is football, boxing, racing, or any other sport “put on the air.” Not everybody can afford time and money to visit distant race meetings, and why should they be debarred from “listening-in” to events which it is not their good fortune to actually witness? The same applies to persons living in the back-blocks; to those unfor-_ tunates in sanatoria and in hospitals; and to many others. No, the racing conference must be consistent on this matter of publicity; otherwise its resolutions and its motions will rebound on itself, rendering its influence with members of Parliament null and void.

THE STUD BOOK.

LAXITY CONTINUES. (By “Moturoa.”) The laxity and carelessness of breeders of thoroughbreds in regard to the New Zealand Stud Book has been referred to more than once in these columns. Many send in no returns whatever, while others (through carelessness) forward erroneous particulars, or allow inaccuracies to be published without realising their duty to correct same. For the benefit of the above persons, that section of the president’s report referring to the Etud Book, read at the recent racing conference, is published here. Sir George Clifford writes: “Seeing the great value of the New Zealand Stud Book to all interested in the sport of racing, it seems incredible that any owners, breeders m clubs should fail to keep a full set of such invaluable records, or to omit subscription to its periodic issue. I appeal to breeders to return regularly and promptly each season the coverings and foalings of their brood mares to the compilei.” It is, or sho.’ld be, needless to add that only carefully verified returns should be forwarded, and if owners and breeders studied the volume carefully, any errors would be immediately corrected.