DEFINING A BOOKMAKER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 50, 22 November 1907, Page 9

DEFINING A BOOKMAKER.

BLOCKING LOOPHOLES. There were puckered faces and 'wrinkled brows in the House yesterday afternoon ovet the delinitiou of the genus book-maker. Even tbn racing authorities of the House and tho criminal lawyors could not agree. ' Tho Gaining and Lotteries Bill gavo the following delinition:—" Any person who acts or carries on business as a bookmaker or turf commission agent, or who gains or endeavours to gain his livelihood wholely or partly by hotting or laying wagers." "That won't bo fair, declared Mr. Wilford. " Every trainer of a racehorse makes a part of his living by betting." " Make it ' a layer of odds,' " advised one member, . ... .

"Or, 'backer against tho field, , " said another. " Make it apply to who gain their livelihood wholly by betting or making wagers." "No, that won't do," was tho rejoinder, " becauso for part of the year thoy will go and earn their livelihood otherwise-, and so escape" " Make it ' who gain their living by laying tho odds,'" said Mr. Wilford with a triumphant smile. "What's laying the odds?" asked a member. .. '.. " Oh, leavo it to the Court to decide; they can call evidence." " I don't think that will meet tho case," interjected tho Premier. " I havo heard there aro such things as ' evens'. We don't want to fall in over this." (Laughter.) " Well, if you put in ' a man who takes tho odds, , ■'.' said Mr. Wilford, " no one can bet with tho totalisator, becauso a man who bets with the totalisator takes tho odds." Tho House turned a look of admiration on tho speaker . " Tho definition in the Bill," said tho Premier at length, " is an exact copy of tho one in the New South Wales Act, and that Act has worked all right. I pronoso to leavo it as it is." " Better make it include bookmakers' clerks or agents," advised Mr. Herries. Mr. Herries's advice was taken, and the Bookmaker stood defined.