BOOKMAKERS AND RADIO

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 314, 11 July 1930, Page 7

BOOKMAKERS AND RADIO

ILLEGAL FRATERNITY AIDED A DISINTERESTED ATTITUDE [ Per Press Association J CHRISTCHURCH, July 10. Reply.ng to statements made by the vice-presiuent of the Trotting Conference a head official of the Kauio Broad casting Company said: 4 ‘Ever since the racing authorities imposed a ban on broadcasting descriptions ot tnc events from the course, the Broadcast.ng Company, so far as it possibly could, nas ad tiered to the wishes of the racing authorities in refraining from broadcasting actual descriptions of the races while they they were being run.” The company, he said, was nevertheless, of op.niou that in the interests of a large section of its listeners mtercsteu in racing and trotting events, general details oi metrjpoliian meetings should be broadcast and arrangements were made for starters, scratchings, position at posts, and names of placed horses at the metropolitan meetings to be broadcast wherever th.s was practicable. There was never any question of bioadcasting for the benefit of bookmakers, as was suggested by Mr Bowe. There can be little doubt that the great mass of the public will be fully appreciative of the wholly disinterested attitude of the company in regard to this matter, and will strongly resent the unwarrantable imputations which appear to have been made by a responsible member of the Trotting Conference.

A vigorous attack on bookmakers was made by Mr John Rowe in his presidential speech at the New Zealand Trotting Conference. “Those clubs which have experienced a decrease in their totalisator receipts can without fear of contradiction lay the principal cause at the door of the bookmaker,’’ Mr Rowe said. “This parasite of humanity is increasing rapidly all over the Dominion, and 1 am sorry to say appeared to be fostered by certain officials. The bookmakers are kept provided with telephones and telegraphic communication by the Government, and in fact generally allowed to do as they like. It is well known that the bookmaker is in greater force to-day than he has been for many years. I am informed that he is now conducted a house-to-house canvass, and one well-known firm is reported to have a staff of 100 men on the road. It is illegal to publish dividends, yet the Government allows the broadcasting company to pick up a private telephone message and relay a description of racing for the special benefit of the bookmakers’ hotel and billiard room clients. I am not suggesting that these officials are hand-in-glove with the bookmakers, but it looks very susplicous. I am well aware that certain owners are strong supporters of the illegal fraternity, and these owners arc the first to cry out when a club is compelled to reduce the stakes on account of a decreased totalisator turnover. We make laws for the good safe conduct of our sport and find that those who make and administer those rules are the first to break them. As long as the big owner supports these illegal parasites there must be a decline in the totalisator turnover, with a reduction in which must necessarily follow. It is estimated—so I am told—that there are at least 150 bookmakers of all classes operating in the Auckland City and suburbs. With Wellington and Christchurch as the headquarters for the Dominion, what must it be like in those cities! The Government should realise the great amount of revenue that is being lost through the operations of the bookmaker, and help the clubs to restore thtt revenue by exterminating this prey on humanity. The publication of dividends, and being able to wire money to the course, would be the quickest solution for the restoration of the lost revenue.”