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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 205, 28 June 1894, Page 5

But if the machine were introduced into Victoria there would be no necessity to; allude to the glory of past Melbourne' Cups. The glory would be present, and would be shining with added lustre. .That is the main value of the machine, •we are told, and its minor factors of 2worth are that “it enforces a method pf post cash betting, its mechanism' exhibits the sums invested on each horse, successful backers are sure of their mopey, and when a rank outsider wins thb return is greater to the investor, as a rule, than that which would be obtainable from the bookmaker.” Coming closer to the direct issue, as to whether the advantages of the totalisator outweigh the disadvantages the writer remarks: —“The machine investments comprise a pool made up of backers’ money alone, and, as a natural matter of course, the object of owners and the other section of bettors is to obtain as much out of the pool as their speculative powers permit, and until the machine is closed it is impossible for abacker, whether he be an owner or otherwise, to obtain a knowledge of what his odds or return may be.” Of course the writer seizes on *' the very .natural argument that the betting being at sight an owner may, on finding his price too short, alter his riding instructions, and substitute the order “lose ” for “ win.” “ Beg the question as we may,” the writer goes on to say, “ it ie undeniable that owners, in the majority of insun-., ha».aa .opportunity

of securing a good wager over a fancied horse before that racer will run at his best.” Well, the machine does not make that impossible. We have the machine here, but in a big contest the bulk of the owner’s money is placed at a certain figure with a member of the Ring. . The machine and penciller can exist side by side, and the introduction of the one does not necessarily mean the extermination of the other. The writer proceeds : “ All factors dispassionately considered, I feel confident that, with the immense scope of Victorian racing, the introduction of the totalisator will have a great tendency to increase the already too frequent evil of dishonest running, and this constitutes one of the greatest objections to the system. It is contended that the machine is beneficial because it does not. offer bribes to jockeys, but from observation of riding, made keen by study and constant practice, I can assert that the jockeys where the “ tote ” is employed are no better than in other places, and, moreover, they can> and do, bet in the machine and the temptations are equally as great as elsewhere. In fact, the “fiddling” in a race, and those artistic losing finishes of the nearly win order, are only too prevalent where the instrument is used ” But can it be said that jockeys are purer in their dealings or non-bettors where the Ring only exists ? That is no argument. In conclusion the writer plumps against the machine and writes : “When the day comes that the V.R.C. and V.A.T.C. cannot hold their meetings under good management and show a profit at the end of the season, then it is time* to introduce the totalisator, but until that epoch comes—and it is not likely to -it will be found a wise policy to let well alone.” Well, time will show.