EVIDENCE BEFORE GAMING COMMISSION

Chronicle (Levin), 6 March 1947, Page 6

EVIDENCE BEFORE GAMING COMMISSION

-Pr'ess Association

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Mar. 5. "I am satisfied from my experience overseas as well as in New Zeaiaiid that the licensing' of bookmakers on or off: the course is detrimental to racing said Mr. W. A. lorns, Martinborough farmer and steward of the Wellington Racing Club when called as a witness before the Gaming Coinmission today by Mr. A. T. Donnelly, leadiiig counsel for the New Zealand- Racing Conference. "If the totalisator returns diminish, vicious results become obvious," said Mr. Iorns. "Initially, stakes mnst fall. The bookmaker imdoubtedly encourages big-scale punting. This in turn leads to corruption with gifts." In a written statement, which was read to the Commission, Mr. Iorns said he had studied racing conditions in England, Ireland, Canada, South Africa, Anstralia, the United States, South America, France, Belgium and Italy. He had witnessed six English Derbys and" four Melbourne Cups, and had had four visits to the United States. "In niore recent years in the United Kingdom I have been the guest of the Jockey Club and have had the opportuuity of nieeting the ehairman and officials, and discussing the adniinistration of racing there. " Small English Stakes. In England, added witness, tlie prizes given outside the classics and more important haridicaps were very small. In niany of tlie races, half to threequarters of the stakes were sweepstake subscriptions or forfeits paid by owners. The totalisator . in England did not appear to be very popular with punters, the niinimum stake of 2s leading to a great deal of * extra work and longer queucs. One good featnre which had extensive public support was a daily double operated by a totalisator, with a xninilnuin bet of 10s. Questioned by Dr. O. C. Mazengarb (for the Associated Churches), the witness said he considered the conditions of racing better in New Zealand than anywhere else in the world. Following further questions which he asked concerning the excitement caused in people when listening to broadcast descriptions of races, Dr. Mazengarb told the Commission that he intended later to make a strong attack on the broadcasting of races as being a stimu- ' lus to betting off the courses. ' ' The broadcasting of races, ' ' be declared, "is responsible for a tremendous amount of the illegal betting."