THE LAW’S ANOMALIES

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1779, 6 July 1926, Page 5

THE LAW’S ANOMALIES

TOTALISATOR AND BOOKMAKERS,

A law that permits the ordinary totalisator to he operated cannot without offending commonsense prohibit the “double” totalisator, but this is what the law actually does. It offends commonsense also in treating the bookmaker as an outlaw while at the same time placing such restrictions upon the telegraphing of totalisator investments as secure for the bookmaker a profitable volume of business. In both these particulars the law is as hypocritical and absurd as it is in its prohibition of the publication of totalisator dividends. In the past every endeavour to repair these gross defects : in the l ilaW Eias been thwarted by a curious combination between the bookmakers’ friends and the well-meaning hut ill-informed Puritans who are opposed to betting in any circumstances. It may be hoped, however, that in the coming session the Government will take the obvious means of making the bookmaker’s trade, if not more precarious, yet at any rate so much less profitable that many, o r most, of them may think It advantageous to seek some other means of livelihood. —Christchurch Press.