The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1868. THE TOTALISATOR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1873, 21 June 1888, Page 2

The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1868. THE TOTALISATOR.

The Ministers' Conference m Dunedin recently convened a public meeting to take into consideration the abolition of the tptalisfttor. There was a large number of ministers present, of all denominations, as well as a number of laymen, among whom wero Sir Robert I* tout, Hon Thomas Dick and Professor Mainwaring Brown, A resolution was was moved — " That this meeting deploring the fact that gambling prevails to a most disastrous extent and believing that the evil is fostered by the legislation of the totalisator, resolves that steps be taken to secure the repeal of thorn sections of " The Gambling and Lotteries Act, 1881, which make gambling a legal transaction," The sections which refer to tho totalisator m the A,ct are as follows :— " Tho instrument known as the totalisator and every machine or instrument of a like kind, or conducted upon the like principal, ehall be an instrument for gaming or wagering within the meaning of this Act, except tho same bo used m conformity with the provisions hereinafter contained," notwithstanding anything m this Act hereinbefore contained, it shall be lawful for the Colonial Secretary, on tbc- application of any Racing Club, to grant to such Club a « license or authority to use tho totalisator at horse raco. meetings held under the control of such Club and subject to tho following conditions, namely : — (1) Before tho application of the Racing Club is disposed of by the Colonial Secretary it ehall bo referred to tho senior Magis. trato of the principal town of tho provincial district m which the Racing Club, is established for his report and. recommendation thereon ; (2) The authority or license shall be m writing, and shall be revocable at any tin.c the Colonial Secretary thinks fit to determine the same, either by written notice to the Club or by notice m the " Gazette" ; (8) No more than three total isators shall be used by the Club at one time, and none outside the race grounds within the control or management of the Club ; j[4) Every totalisator shall be under tho caro or management of sonio competent person appointed by the Club and under tho direct supervision of tho Stewards." " Totalisator" means tho instrument for wagering or hattfng jknojyn by that namo, and any other instrument ojr jnapfripe of » like nature and conducted upon jbhe s#»no principles. If the conditions abovementioned arc duly pomplied with, no person shall bo liable to any penalty or forfeiture under this Act, and any other law for the time being m forco relating fo gaming and lotteries for the use of the totalisafor m manner horeinbefore proyided." These then are the sections sought to be repealed. #nd it would seem to ho a yery easy matter to effect t^is without altering tho Act m any way. The totalis&tor js jiold to bo a gambling instrument except uncW certain conditions, and nothing would bdooi njoro easy than to get the Legislature to witbold the sanction of the Colonial Secretary to any application which might come beforo him. Even if our Resident Magistrates were to be of opinion that the uist/uipenfc was inadvisable and make no rccomniondfttioi o» #ny Applications cotuing: before them" we prejiump the use of the lotalfsator would nojt be permitted. But oven should the resole tion as passed by the meeting, to which jhove aljuded, bo of any weight, there is something (to be saiyL [n favor of tho retention ot tho totaliaator as a bcitipg agency m preference to .bookmakers who w>ul& Jiyo well if tho machine were /abolished. By (restricting t,}, e ÜB q o f c machine tlio gambling djoao bjr njeans of ft will not bo so largo. Its effect wjll bp ' infinitely boltor than if contact is sought with professional boolnnafcers, and doubtful characters who make books a£ raco meetings.