SUPPORTING THE TOTALISATOR.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1065, 4 August 1910, Page 5

SUPPORTING THE TOTALISATOR.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER.

EFFECT UPON RACING. A large deputation, representing racing and trotting clubs in Auckland, waited upon the Premier (Sir Joseph Ward) at the Star Hotel on Tuesday morning in reference to the question of the abolition or reduction of the totalisator permits. The Hon- E. Mitchelson, president of the Auckland Racing Club, was the first speaker, and he referred to the serious effect that the abolition or substantial reduction of the number of totalisator permits would have upon the clubs- Referring to the bookmaker question, he said that, with the exception of the first meeting after the passing of the Act of 1907, the Auckland Racing Club had always obtained reports from the police regarding applicants for licenses. The fact that a great many undesirable bookmakers had flocked into the country, and had worked the races for their own ends, had led to the creation of a large number of unregistered meetings. A striking instance of this had occurred in the Northern Wairoa, where the advent of the bookmaker had led to the formation of six unregistered meetings. If the totalisator clubs considered the matter from the financial aspect, they would say, “ Retain the bookmakers,” as the amount received in fees from the latter was more than could be made up by means of the totalisator. The totalisator did not encourage people to bet. Last year the Auckland Club had paid £29,215 in stakes, ana ta addition to this It had expend-

Club had a Hue property at Ellerslie, and was spending a large sum of money on it in order to make, it attractive to the public. Numbers of people who never went to races visited the course on Sundays and other days, and the course was thus, in many respects a public park. The suburban clubs were, in a smaller way following the same policy. He pointed out that the metropolitan, as well as several of the suburban clubs, had incurred liabilities two or three years in advance, by offering stakes for their classic events. Mr. E- W. Alison spoke as a metropolitan and country representative, as well as president of the Takapuna Club, and said if the totalisator permits were cut down by one-half, or appreciably cut down, it would inflict a great injustice upon a number of clubs, and, in addition, a large number of them would be wiped out of existence. If the Government intended to obliterate racing, let the position be made clear. If racing, however, was to continue, the clubs should not be deprived, by too restrictive legislation, of the means of carrying on successfully. He agreed that there was too much racing, but there were as many, or more, registered and unregistered meetings as there were totalisator meetings. In the Auckland district the totalisator clubs held about 39 days’ racing in the year, and he held that this was not too much for the size and population of Auckland and country districts- In computing the race days, the registered and unregistered clubs should be taken into consideration, and the limitation of totalisator permits and race days to totalisator clubs should be based upon the reduction of racing as a whole. Mr. A. Hanna, speaking on behalf of the Avondale Club, said that club had committed itself to certain improvements and to a fixed programme until 1912, and if the totalisator permits were taken away or reduced,, the effect would be disastrous. The Avondale Club had always obtained police reports before isuing licenses to bookmakers.

In reply to the Premier Mr. Hanna said he thought the Avondale Club had generally declined to issue licenses to undesirable personsMr. R. H McKenzie, speaking on behalf of the trotting clubs, said that if the totalisator permits were removed or reduced, the effect would be a deterioration in the breed of horses. He did not believe that there had ever been a case of welshing in connection with his club.

The Prime Minister, in his reply, said that it was not so much the Government as public opinion that they had to reckon with in this matter. Horse-racing was one of the finest sports in the world, but certain matters in connection with the conduct of the meetings had led to complaints on the part of people who were not unfriendly to the sport. The Act of 1907 had confined the betting largely to the racecourse, but the provision, for licensing the bookmakers had met with strong opposition from some of the clubs. He knew for a fact that some of the clubs had issued licenses indiscriminately, and in some instances the matter had been pointed out by the reputable class of bookmakers. The outcome had been the agitation to do away with the bookmakers altogether. The question to be considered in connection with the coming legislation was how far would a reduction of the totalisator permits interfere with legitimate racing. During the past racing season there had been 305 racing days, "with totalisator permits. In addition, there were other registered clubs responsible for over 100 days’ racing. These, with unregistered and proprietary clubs, made a total of about 750 days’ racing in the year. Speaking apart from

registered and unregistered. The individual position of clubs could~not be considered, but the Government’s proposals would be carefully framed, with a view to the country, as well as the town, aspect. The Government was trying to approach the matter from a practical, rather than a sentimental, standpoint. Mr. Mitchelson: Will the clubs have an opportunity of perusing the Bill ? Sir Joseph Ward: The Bill will probably be referred to a committee to take evidence upon-

The Premier referred to various reports he had received, some of them from habitues of the racecourses, Complaining of the methods of the conduct of certain race meetings. He was, he said, speaking generally, but had he cared to go into some of the matters affecting racing in Auckland he could have probably told them something that they did not know themselves. He had these reports from citizens of Auckland who attended the race meetings here. Mr. E. W. Alison: I have attended Hie majority of the race meeting in Auckland, and I have never heard any complaint before. There is no other part of New Zealand where racing is so clean as it is in Auckland. The whole object of the Racing Conference is to secure clean sport.

Sir Joseph Ward: I have not said one word regarding the Racing Conference. I recognise that it is composed of a most estimable body of men, who have done much to place racing upon a proper basis- The members of the Conference, however, have never controlled, either directly or indirectly, the licensing of bookmakers, except perhaps in their separate capacities as members of clubs, who have issued licenses to bookmakers who ought never to have received them. You cannot know everything that goes on in the Auckland province, or else you would not make such statements.

Mr. Alison: You have practically made a wholesale condemnation of racing in Auckland. Sir Joseph Ward: I have done nothing of the sort. I have said that undesirable things have occurred, but I do not say that Auckland is an exception. You are no worse and no better than any other part of the Dominion.