A WORD FOR THE BOOKMAKER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1045, 7 February 1911, Page 6

A WORD FOR THE BOOKMAKER.

Sir,—The lateVTakanuna meeting has seen tho last of tho "bookie" pro tcm. Why has lie been abolished? Is it becauso the public wished it? No. They got a glorious , send-off at Takapuna, serenaded by the band, heartily cheered by tho public, and Mr. Glover, ■ M.P. (may his shadow never grow less!) had a kind word to say for them. They have also my hearty sympathy. Tho plain fact of the matter why he is done away with is this: That with tho big clubs it is nothing else but pure greed and self first. Is tho moderate punter to be debarred from having a silver bet? "Many of us cannot afford to bet pound notes; or is tho game solely to bB played for tho moneyed class? When wo get a _ few more'enlightened men with broad-minded views in tho Ilouso this coming election, who will not crawl to tho Anti-Gambling League and tho parson to try and hold their seats in tho House, and tho country is not governed by Pnritan rule, New Zealand may again bo a frco and enlightened country. If it is a criminal oficnco for the "bookie" to ply his calling, I say abolish tho totalisator, and that will soon settle horse-racing. It is only run as a gamble, and not for sport. —I am, etc., F. BARNETT. Woodville. f