Editorial. IS REFORM WANTED?

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1930, Page 5

Editorial. IS REFORM WANTED?

Reform of the laws relating to betting, and not political “ r reform, is the subject of this article. That betting is, and always will be, there is room for doubt, and while on all sides we are assailed with alleged “solutions” of the betting problem, one wonders, after fully considering. the schemes. extolled by various factious f whether any alteration of the existing* conditions is seriously desired. ' Legal betting is provided for by the totalisator, illegal betting by the bookmaker. This Government, and preceding ones, pretend that the legalised machine fills all the requirements of the public, and that all other forms of wagering are wrong—entirely wrong. But is this really serious? If the totalisator is advanced as a fair and equitable method of betting, why is it so heavily taxed Why has 10 per cent, of the gross turnover been taken from the betting public m the past? And why have succeeding dividend taxes been added, so that now the poor punter’s pound is only worth a little more than sixteen shillings? Is this the way our paternal legislators hope to encourage their “child,” the totalisator ? It is little wondei that racing clubs are dissatisfied with the conditions placed on the operation of the machine, and little wonder also that the public is turning from it in disgust. Now look at the other side of the picture. The bookmaker is also dissatisfied with his. lot,, or says he is. Some years ago his powerful and well organised association was successful in getting the bookmaker licensed to bet on racecourses, but the conditions were so stringent, or the association s lack ot interest in the bona fides of men licensed was so evident, that, the concession was withdrawn. And what is the position of the bookmaker to-day ? Except for occasional fines, which are looked upon merely as license fees,” he continues to operate on much more favourable terms than the totalisator. He pays no betting tax, no dividend tax, bets when and on whatever horse. he chooses, very often has “inside” information, which he js able to use for his own profit. The totalisator declines money for all non-starters, but the bookmaker reaps a harvest from “doubles and trebles, which are “all in.” On the face of it, it appears that he is better off now than he would be under license. Really the sufferer at the present time is the poor punter. Betting on the totalisator by . money order telegram or by letter is forbidden, while 'if he attends a race meeting and invests his money through the legal channel he is ruthlessly taxed. More than one Government in power has promised relief, but Gaming Bill after Gaming Bill has gone west. How the forthcoming Bill Will fare is hard to say, but it is patent that if anyone demands '‘reform” it is the betting public. They are “getting it m tjie peck” all the time, and deserve the title of “the silent, but longSuffering majority." _. Ta ritutu.Editorial. ■ ANOTHER UMBRELLA NATIONAL * Umbrellas and gumboots will be at' a premium at Riccarton to-day if one can judge by present indications, and prospects of a National meeting run under damp conditions will not present & very cheery appeal to the pleasure-loving public. Nevertheless the uninviting prospects will not dampen to any great extent the ardour of the keen members of the sporting community, and large numbers of enthusiasts will leave their cheery fires to brave the elements and tramp the grounds and stands at Riccarton to see another National run and won. While wintry conditions are unpleasant even for the hardiest of punters, the rain, the biting winds and slippery mud are infinitely worse for the riders and horses. Pause for a moment and pity those wielders of the whalebone and their gallant mounts as they flounder along the stiffest steeplechase course, m 'the Dominion over three and a half miles of fences which give • tause for respect even under the best of conditions. Yet in spite of the invidious prospect the horsemen are a game lot,.and the average steeplechase rider will laconically inform one that the “ground is much softer to fail on at this time of the year.” And so they go—riders and horses risking life and limb at every fence, while the bettors group in, the shelter of the stands, bemoan their luck and the weather, or. cheer where they have selected the winner. —“Moturoa.