THE TOTALISATOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1322, 28 December 1911, Page 4

THE TOTALISATOR.

N.S.W. COMMISSION 'AT ELLERSLIB, (By Tcleeraph-Prcse Association.] Auckland, December 27. Particularly interested visitors to yesterday's races_ at Ellerslie were the mem- • bers of tho New South Wales Totalisator Commission. Mr. K. H. Levien, M.L.A., who is the father of the Now South Wales State Parliament, had some interesting observations to niako this morning when socii by a reporter. The commission, said Mr. ri? nc iV wns loucl in its appreciation of tho all-round excellence of the arrangements of yesterday for such a large crowd. They thought it remarkable ihnt everything should have passed off with such absoluto smoothness. Ifr. Levien felt justified jn saying that there was not that inducement 'to bet where the ring was not inviting tho public to come forward and accept attractive odds. It ' seemed to him that the presence of the totalisator was in this way preferable to the bookmaker, nnd (ended to make the racing moro attractive. Questioned regarding tho activities of tho commission, Mr. Levien said that they wero now going into the business which had brought them to New Zealand,' and had already taken a certain amount of evidence. A number of prominent people had promised to come forward and givo them the fullest particulars possible, and it was intended to ask one or two representatives of leading churches to give their evidence. The conimission'i work was to inquire:— (1) Whether tho totalisator really increased gambling? , . (2) Whether it provided a fairer means of betting for tho public? (3) Whether it is best that it should bo under State control? W 'Whether the means derived from it (if the machine bo established) should bo devoted purely to racing? Tho difficulty in New South Wales, lie added, wns that' in . New.. South Wnlcs there were a number of,proprietary clubs, and the extension of/ the totalis lor to such courses was in itself a problem. However, that was a mutter for legislation. ~ The commission will remain in Auckland until next week,