TO RETAIN THE TOTALISATOR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 873, 20 July 1910, Page 6

TO RETAIN THE TOTALISATOR.

PLAN SUGGESTED.

Tlio totalisator, lately the theme' of much anti-gambling agitation, was spoken .of from quite a different standpoint at the Trotting Conference yesterday. The subject was introduced by Mr. H. S. Fraser, secretary of the South Canterbury Trotting Club, who appeared before the conference to support an application by his club' for a totalisator permit. Tho conference was able to mako no other reply to Mr. Fraser than that it saw no present prospect of being ablo to accede to the request, but the subject of the totalisator was continued by Mr. Selig, who remarked that the abolition of tho bookmaker and of the totalisator was in the air. To a certain oxtent this was thG result of irresponsible talk. Hβ could personally vouch for the fact that on one occasion four people met and passed resolutions favouring the abolition of the bookmaker and totalisator. This was reported in newspapers, no doubt in good faith, as the expressed opinion of mi organisation. On the other hand, the racing clubs and a great many peoplo who desired to retain the rotalisritor, believing it the cleanest and fairest betting medium, took things too quietly. They should follow a course that had been adopted in ' England some years previously, when established privileges were Hu'e'atened, and form a Sporting League. The league- should be without political bias.' They should simply ask a candidate if he' favoured the totalisator, and vote for him if'lie replied in the affirmative. The politics of the country would look after themselves for a time, but those who favoured the retention of the totalisator should take active steps to secure a recognition of their claims.