THE TOTALISATOR.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 106, 4 August 1892, Page 9

THE TOTALISATOR.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. (by WIRE —FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, Tuesday night. There was quite an interesting debate on the vexed question of the totalisator shortly before the House rose for dinner this evening. The Hon. Mr. Mitchelson opened the ball by asking the Government if they would introduce a bill to regulate the use of the totalisator, and prevent the abuses to which it is now being subjected. In reply the Premier stated that the Government had no information before them to enable them to deal with this question. The Metropolitan Clubs had the power to regulate the use of the totalisator, and if not they should come to this House and ask for legislation on the subject. The real question was not whether the totalisator should be regulated but whether it should be abolished, and the Metropolitan Clubs must see that if it was not regulated it must be abolished. The House, he thought, should not be called upon to legislate until the clubs had come to a sense of their position in regard to this matter. Mr. Mitchelson then asked whether in the event of the Metropolitan Clubs promoting certain regulations, would the Government, through its Colonial Secretary, give effect to those recommendations ? The reply was that the Government were prepared to give such recommendations every consideration. They could say no more at present. Mr. Jackson Palmer hoped the House would not be guided by the action of the clubs, which he thought ought not to govern the whole of the racing in New Zealand. No doubt there was a good deal of abuse of the totalisator, but the better plan would be for the Colonial Secretary to revise the regulations so that no totalisator should be allowed to any club that did not give £4OO in prizes on every racing day. Mr. R. Thompson declaimed against the increase in gambling in New Zealand. The people in Auckland lived by gambling and horseracing, and the only way to stop the abuses would be to stop the totalisator. Dr. Newman agreed that there was a good deal of necessity for reform in this direction. Race meetings were too frequent in New Zealand. In Auckland they could have a race meeting every Saturday if they liked, and the only people who wanted such a state of things were those who made a living by it —the “hawks,” and if something were not done it would be found necessary to abolish the totalisator. The discussion then concluded. Colonel Fraser’s Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill, which was introduced into the House of Representatives last week, had for its object the legalisation of sweeps and consultations under certain restrictions. After its introduction it was found that the mover was out of order as a private member in bringing in a Bill which was intended to raise revenue, and it has consequently been withdrawn, Mr. W. L. Roos’ Bill for the abolition of the totalisator was road a first time last week, and is sot down foi the second reading on Thursday next. I notice, however, by the Order Paper that the Bill is not “ numbered,” which implies that it is not yet printed, so that it is hardly likely it will come on for discussion for some time yet. Mr. Rees is very sanguine about the success of his bantling, but the general opinion is that he has not the ghost of a chance of getting it through this session. A manifesto in the opposite direction from Mr. C. Hood Williams of Canterbury, setting forth the benefits conferred by the “ machine ” on the community in general and the racing clubs in particular, is being published in the N.Z. Times. It is supposed to emanate from the Canterbury J.C., which of course would be largely affected by the loss of revenue involved in the abolition. Mr. Williams gives some interesting particulars of the working of the pari-mutuel in France, and lays great stress upon the amount which is set apart out of the commission for charitable aid.