P. AND T. OFFICERS SAID TO HAVE USED 'PHONE FOR BETS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18937, 6 December 1929, Page 4

P. AND T. OFFICERS SAID TO HAVE USED 'PHONE FOR BETS .

Departmental Inquiry Causes Consternation at Auckland P.O,

(Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 5. Consternation has been caused at the Auckland Post Office as a result of the inquiry launched by.two inspectors following listening-in to conservations over the telephone used by members of the operating staff while the Takapuna Jockey Club’s meeting was in progress last Saturday and Monday. About forty men are involved, a number which comprises something like half the staff of the operating room. It is alleged that in addition to having a wire to listen in an officer was stationed close to the telephone which was used and took the names of persons using the telephone and also the times at which it was used. This information was then compared with the times taken by the officer on the listen-ing-in ’phone. One official was charged with using the telephone for betting on a large number of occasions on the two days, and it appears that he was merely ringing up on behalf of others. In two instances solicitors have been retained to defend officials concerned in the inquiry. The investigation is purely a departmental one and the method adopted is for the inspectors to endeavour to obtain written statements. It is alleged that telephone conversations are not evidence, according to a regulation, unless absolute proof can be had of the person at the telephone being identified. /Although the operating room at the telegraph office is the only one at the moment involved, suggestions have been made that listening-in has been resorted to in connection with other Government departments. An ex-officer of the Post and Telegraph Department' stated this morning that the present inquiry would be the usual nine days’ wonder, with perhaps a transfer or two, but otherwise nothing would be done. He commented on the fact that a tremendous lot of business went through the telegraph

office on all race days, and in the ordinar3 r way the department put every facility in the way of those who wished to send telegrams. He referred to the temptation that stared operators in the face on such occasions. Any man who thought that he knew “ a good thing ” would be inclined to have a bet on it. It is well known that, despite the Gaming Act and its amendments, all the betting done on horse racing in the Dominion is not confined to the totalisator, and that frequently horses are backed “ off the course ” for substantial amounts. One such case happened on Saturday last, on the occasion Qf the second day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting, and, to put it in racing parlance, “ all the town ” was on the winner in question. This was the three-year-old filly Lydia, which is owned by the president of the Trotting Conference, Mr H. F. Nicoll. The backing of the filly away from the course would, of course, be quite beyond the knowledge of Mr Nicoll, who is strongly opposed to any betting being done other than through the totalisator. On Saturday morning it was freely broadcast about the city that word had been received that Lydia was expected to win the Advance Handicap that afternoon, and backers all over the city were soon busy “ getting on.” Lydia is a filly by Wrack, and had only raced once previously, this being at the Ashburton Racing Club’s meeting on September 21. It was a small event 7 , the Selma Handicap, and there were eleven starters, with Lydia and Wrackeen coupled on the machine, but they were not greatly fancied and ruled only seventh in order of favouritism. Neither showed up at all on that occasion and finished out of a place. In view of this form it was expected that Lydia would be at a good price at Forbury Park on Saturday, but to the surprise of those stay-at-home backers the filly started favourite. However, the dividend was rather a good one for a first favourite. Illlllllliilliillllllllllllllilllllllilllllim