THE BOOKMAKING EVIL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1922, 3 December 1913, Page 9

THE BOOKMAKING EVIL.

Sir, —Dor's police activity in regard 1 1o tin's glaring evil come only in cycles r" If sueh is not tho case, what explanation do the police oll'er for tho consistent, deliberate, and open breaches of tho law that take place in our imutj ntreets, and more partieuiai'ly in ceit-aiii licensed hotels, on every day upon which a race meeting is held in any part of the Dominion? ISookiHakiftg in _ its lowest and most deadly form is still rampant in Wellington ; and in at least one hotel the bar trade is maintained principally by foolish punters who frequent tho hotel for the purpose of limiting their > bets with' Air. Ilookie, who is always on tho spot, defying the law and rooking his victims with tho full kr.ov.-lcdyto of •.he said licensee. These are the times in which we hear the lirturr/ of compulsion extolled-— compulsory training, arbitration, etc. — the merits or demerits of which 1 ain not out to discuss, hut assuming that compulsion is good for tho goose, then it ought to hege.od for the gander. iSc why not. go a bit further and eonijH tho sleek parasitical bookmaker io earn ids living honestly—or gaol liim for ever — and also th-e hatolkcopers who cloak '■■ -and assist him.—l am, etc., POLO.