The "Dead Cert" Swallows Housekeeping Moneys

Chronicle (Levin), 19 November 1949, Page 5

The "Dead Cert" Swallows Housekeeping Moneys

LONDON, Nov. 18. "Do you think uiany housewives bet?" was a question asked of a eoit stable from Liverpool who gave evid ence before the Royal Commission ou Betting, Lotteries and Gaming. The constable replied: "A lot of wo ment bet. They bet with anything — housekeeping monev, publie assistanec money tind any money they can get. Ii is a greater temptation for women than men. They have got more time on their hands. ' ' Another constable, who is secretary of the Police Federation, told the Commis'sion: "The housewife who goes out shopping with housekeeping money an-.l gets mixed up with these all too fre quent betting houses, is a grave source of concern to us. When the husband comes home and finds the housekeep ing money has gone there is all sorts of trouble." Altogether four eonstables gave evi dence. They said the temptations be setting the housewife ranged from thi milkman who coilects betting slips ai the back door, to the gown shop, tobac conist, greengrocer and even dentists and estate agents who use their premises as bookntaking houses. AU agreeo that the housewife fell more readily than the man to the lure of a " dead cert" winner. She also falls, they said, for race to race gambling to reeoup small losses — until all the housekeeping money is spent.