A PARADISE OF SPIELERS

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12794, 12 June 1909, Page 3

A PARADISE OF SPIELERS-

The Licensed Bookmaker.

(From Our Parliamentary Special. — By Telegraph). WELLINGTON, June 11.

"Its effect has been to make New Zealand a paradise of spielers," declared Mr Massey this afternoon, in referring to the provision for the licensing of bookmakers which was passed two years ago. This remark elicited a vociferous, "Hear, hear !" from Mr Poole.

A large number of undesirable people, Mr Massey continued, were now enabled to frequent the racecourses, and a great many respectable people who formerly went to races would not go there now. Mr Poole —^lf it keeps people away from the races it has done some good."

Mr Glover — "The clubs are largely to blame."

Mr Massey — "I am not going to express any opinion upon that point. I admit that some of the bookmakers are respectable men, and some of them have complained to me about the passing of the Act. We have made a mistake, and I hope that we will go back upon it, and remedy the mistake that has been made.'

"They have come here in hundreds," Mr Massey went on to say, "and the liesult has been to greatly increase what is called the illegitimate form of racing, which is carried on, not in the interests of sport, but simply to afford opportunities for gambling. Scenes have occurred on our racecourses since the passing of the Act which were unthought of two or three years ago, and a number of respectable people who used to gothere for the enjoyment of the spoTt now stay away. The legislation is faulty. I dY> not understand the inferences that were brought to bear, and I don't want to know, but I sincerely hope that we shall go back on the mistake that was made. We have to do something better than that."

Mr Poole— "Abolish, the totalisator altogether." (Hear, hear). Mr Maasey — "If the lion, gentleman proposed to abolish gambling at one stroke, I will support him."

Mr Wilford —^'You can't do that as long as tb«»re are two heads on a penny (laughter). I mean a head and a tail."