The Star. MONDAY, AUGUST 26. 1918. ODD MONEY FROM THE TOTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12406, 26 August 1918, Page 4

The Star. MONDAY, AUGUST 26. 1918. ODD MONEY FROM THE TOTE.

The appointment of an officer of the Internal Affairs Department, to act us Government tctalisator inspector has brought rapid developments, and m a direction which may not have been generally anticipated. The Hon G. \\. Bussell, Minister in charge of the Department, quoted some interesting figures on Saturday night, in the course of liis address to the members of the Workers’ Educational Association, ou the subject of tctalisator dividends. The law demands that dividends shall be paid to tho nearest sixpence, an arrangement which leaves an undistributed balance, represented by tho odd coppers. It was regarding tho disposition of this odd money that tho Minister directed his remarks. The figures ho quoted may bo taken as official, and they showed a total of £341 9s Gd for the four days’ racing held in Christchurch during Grand National week, or an average of £2lO 7s 4d per day. That tho odd money varies considerably is shown by the fact that ou the Second day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting it Was nearly three times ns much ns on the first day, hut tho results of the four days’ racing at Riooarton. and Addington this mouth probably represent a; fair average percentage of tho amounts that remain undistributed among holders of winning tickets nt all meetings. Assuming this to he tho case, a largo sum is involved each year, when tho operations of all the clubs in New Zealand are taken into account. ‘Mr Bussell had no suggestion for paying out dividends to the last penny, but he was quite emphatic in expressing his opinion that the clubs were not entitled to retain the odd money. His view that it should be returned to the public will find strong endorsement in many quartets, though tho change of policy involved by such an arrangement will have a marked effect on club finances. It will mean a serious loss of revenue to all clubs, while in tho case of many clubs, which have their machines run hy a contractor, there will ho other interests to consider, the usual arrangement being that the odd money is divided between the contractor and the club. Adjustments of contracts may thus be necessary, but this is a matter that is not likely to influence the Government, whose attitude is that the puhlio isentitled to tho return o! the money in some way. If this view is conceded, the money will eventually go to relievo the taxpayers in connection with esoeuditure for the care of the sick and the unfortunate, so that the proposal, from tins point of view, will meet with general approval.