NECESSITY FOR BOOKMAKERS PASSING

Chronicle (Levin), 20 August 1946, Page 7

NECESSITY FOR BOOKMAKERS PASSING

"Tlie win-and-place system of betting casts tlie first shadow over the bookmakcr," the presidcnt, Mr. Gordon j Fraser, said at tho aunual nieeling of tlie Taranaki .Jockey Club at New Plyniouth iast weck. "Any necessity for his existenco lias boeu t'urthei shakenl by tlie big stakos making it unneces-. sary for many owners to bet at all, " he! added. i The presidcnt of the Racing Confer- j ence had alread.v indicated that its policy was not to advocate tlie estab-i lishment of a niultitude of betting 1 shops but to fully and actively supporti Ihe authorities in any feasiblo seheme; which diverted to tlie totalisator tko| moiiey at jjresent going th rough illegal; chaiuiels, said Mr. Frai>er. The os -Ud! in tlie £ which provided a coinfortablc ' margin for the bookniaker was intencl-j ed, and should go 111 relief of othorj taxation and to provide better stakes: for owners and roasonable comfort for' the public. Ile felt that the facililiesi for the general public would, and i should, be continually improvcd. 1 "If legal facilities are provided for1 tlie piclcer of doubles and trebles and: for tlie off -course better geiierallv, tlie. lo of tlie bookniaker gazing at where his telephoue used to be and listening for the tread of a police force backed by a stronger public opinion than exists to-day — will uot be an enviable oue," concludcd Mr. Fraser.