OFF-COURSE BETTING IS SUPPORTED

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 February 1949, Page 3

OFF-COURSE BETTING IS SUPPORTED

“The point has been made by certain interests that the legalising of off-course betting will mean an increase in gambling on horse-racing-in my opinion that argument can have no basis in fact,” said the Dominion president of the New Zealand Racing Owners’, Breeders’ and Trainers’ Association (Mr S. J. Gudsell) in a statement yesterday. “To those who hold that view my answer is that the public has at its disposal only a limited betting fund, and no one can assume that the aggregate of investments would increase with the introduction of the system of legalised off-course betting recommended by the Gaming Commission. The only difference that-the new system would make would be to divert money now placed with unlawful bookmakers through lawful channels to the totalisator. I think that the elimination of the bookmaker with his attendant evils of credit betting and soliciting of bets by agents in almost every shop, office and factory would inevitably decrease th e total volume of betting and would place racing on a better footing. “The present system brings the law into disrepute and leaves the way open for corrupt practice. To remove this black spot from the sport of racing is surely to be desired. Even the Churches must agree with that, particularly as they have admitted that the prohibition of organised gambling is not a practical possibility. My associaion is 100 per cent, behind the conference’s scheme.”