THE STREET BOOKMAKER

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1578, 25 November 1924, Page 3

THE STREET BOOKMAKER

GROWING EVIL IN ENGLAND.

At the present time it is interesting to learn how they handle illegal betting in other parts of the world. A friend, who is at present in England, sends along a copy of the Liverpool Echo, which deals with the subject as follows:—'“Though the fines inflicted on street bookmakers w’ho ply their trade in the Boroi gh of Salford already total £6OOO for the current year, the chief constable assents that Salford is no worse than other places. If this is so, then the police in other centres adopt different methods, v/hich do not yield such a rich harvest of fines. But the police are faced with an impossible task both in Salford and elsewhere, for experience has proved that street betting cannot be abolished by legislation. That is the opinion of every chief constable in the country, and the chief constable of Salford is convinced that the best method of dealing with the problem is to license the bookmakers, and have special places set apart for their business, which could be supervised and controlled. But some might object that this would lead to an increase in betting. Salford’s chief constable takes the opposite view. He asserts that a considerable amount of temptation would he removed, for there would not then be the touting that goes on under present conditions. Moreover, juvenile betting could be checked. Street betting amongst boys and girls is on the increase. If the street, bookmakers were licensed, and a special place set apart for their business, juvenile betting could he, exterminated, in the opinion of Salford’s chief constable, for it would be possible to frame regulations which could be carried into effect. The prevailing legislation aimed at street bookmakers is notoriously a farce, and they are taxed in a haphazard manner, though these taxes are termed fines. The police are placed to exercise any control. If the opinions of the chief constables throughout the country were taken on this point it would be a simple matter to frame legislation that wquld remove some of the worst evils associated with street betting.”