THE CHANCE MACHINE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1329, 5 January 1912, Page 4

THE CHANCE MACHINE.

EVIDENCE OF ME. GLOVEE, M.P. IBy Telecraph— Press Association.) Auckland, Jan.ua.iy 4. When the New South Wales Totalisator Commission resumed this morning, Mr. A. E. Glover, M.P., was the first witness examinej. Mr. Glover said that, for 50 years, lie had been a resident of Auckland. Years ago ho had been personally interested in the bookmaking business, and he knew it from A to Z. In his opinion the Gaming Act of 1910, abolishing tho bookmaker, was not in tho best inttresls of tho people of New Zealand as a whole. Evidence, he noticed, had been given before this Commission largely in favour of the totalisator. Ho thought that tho totalisator catered only for one class. When tho Gaming Bill was before Parliament, he had said that it wculd load to an increase in betting. Subsequent events had proved the truth of his statements. The huge increase in the totalisator receipts were (according to tho racing clubs) duf to tho absence of the bookmakers; but that was not so. The clubs had fought for the abolition of tho bookmaker, so as to have all betting done through the tetalisator, thus enabling them to gather all tho profits. Preceding legislation had laid a moral obligation on the racing clubs to only license reputable bookmakers. The clubs, so as to bring tho bookmakers as a body' into disrepute, had licensed men who had absolutely no right to bo allowed to operate. In his opinion (he totalisator was the greatest incentive to gambling that the world had ever known. An occasional startling dividend of, sav, iiso caused lots of people to think that totalisator betting was an easy way of making money. Tho witness added that he thought that gambling was inherent in human nature, and could never be stamped ont by legislative measures. Patrick Nash, a, contractor, stated that after considerable experience of horseracing he condemned the totalisator as being too costly to the public. Henry W. Wilding, public accountant and auditor, said that he had filled different positions in connection with tho accountancy of totnlisator business. \s to the evidence .regarding touting for the totalisator ho said that this could not have been done without his knowledge, and ho was convinced that the gentleman who gave tho evidence was misinformed. Again, the rato of commission was so small that it certainly would not pay to disburse money for collecting money. There was -no touting, he was satisfied.

Questioned as to the amount of unclaimed money put on the totalisator, witness said that, out of ,£50,000 received at tho recent Kllerslie meeting, only £i 10s. had remained unclaimed, and ho supposed that that would lie called for next

l'ho Commission concluded the taking of evidence in Auckland this morning, and leaves to-morrow for Eotorua.