PROHIBITED

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2204, 17 July 1914, Page 5

PROHIBITED

BETTING WITH THE BOOKMAKERS NEW RACING LAW FOR OWNERS, TRAINERS, & JOCKEYS A drastic stop was taken by the New Zealand Racing Conference .yesterday afternoon in order to assist as far as possible in making effective the law for the suppression of the. bookmaker in Acw Zealand. The subject was introduced by the president (Sir Geo. Clifford), who moved to frame a new rule reading as follows:— "By the entering of a horse, every person having, or subsequently acquiring, an interest in such horse, shall be deemed thereby to undertake, neither directly nor indirectly. to make aaiy wager with a bookmaker'in connection with such horse, or any other horse in the race in which such horse is so entered." Influence of Market Operations. In speaking to the motion, the president described it as by far the most important resolution which he had submitted to the conference. He thought it was very desirable that they should show they were complying with the law in spirit and act, and if they were going to tolerate betting with bookmakers and to allow those subject to their control to carry oh that form of betting, then there might bo a very fair complaint that they were not acting as they diould. It might reasonably be said against them that they were not assisting the Government to suppress the evils on which it had been considered desirable to legislate. They all knew that it was one of the most serious obstacles to the purity of the Turf that jockeys, trainers, and others associated with the sport were liable to he subject to the influence of market operations or to the influence of those people who had no legitimate interest in what was going on. "I know," said the president, "that the objection will bo raised that we cannot control the general public, and therefore there is no reason why wo should control the owners who are providing the-sport for the public." But the general public, ho pointed out, were controlled and limited in their betting .operations by Act of Parliament. He thought the conference should go further than that, and show they were determined as far as possible to obey the spirit of the Act, and deal with those whom they controlled. Moreover, it would bo better if owners would refrain from betting outside _ the totalisator, and set the example in that way. The totalisator gave owners a _ certain prescribed means of speculation, and the public knew when owners invested on the totalisator that they had no ulterior motives and no reason other than that of running straight on the day of the race. But if they speculated in other channels, - the public not get the class of sport to which they were entitled. A Solfish Thing. It was a self "ill +hing for owners to accept the large stakes provided by the totalisator, and at the sam 6 time withdraw their own speculation from the machine. It was desirable that the conference should let it bo known that they were endeavourmi;: as far as possible to prevent any infraction of tho. law, and it was intended to compel thoso who wcrevinany way under the control of the conference to contribute, to the cleanliness of the sport, of which they (the conference) were, in ,a .word, the trustees. In conclusion;: the president • pointed out that at the last conference the proposed new rule commanded a considerable majority, but was defeated for want of tho three-fourths margin. If it were carried this year it would set nn example that would do good to racing not only in New Zealand, but also in other parts of the world. ' Views of tfta Conference. Mr. H. D. Vavasour, in seconding tho motion, declared that ho would always support such a measure. Ho referred to the boast that people could get almost as much money on with the bookmakers now as they could bo fore the legislation ■ was carried to abolish them, and thought that was a renroach to tho snort. The Hon. 0. Samuel supported the motion, and expressed the hope that it would he carried 011 this occasion. Mr. E. W. Alison was opposed to the proposal, and asked how the con : femiee could hope to carry out such a rule if it oould not lie enforced as the law of the land. The point had been raised that 'the conference could not control the general public, and neither f.hov could. And if an Act of Parliament could not : prevent owners from betting with bookmakers, how could tho conference prevent them by tho mere passing of a rule. It would bo vojv unsatisfactory to oass a rule which ivotild not b" observed: Mr. TT. Friedlander pointed out that l.he law of the land'prevented thievinu, but it was still goinc on. He thought it wns the duty of the conference to do nil thev could to prohibit betting with bookmakers. The Rule Too Drasfio. Mr. W. T. Hazlett Opposed the motion, although 110 agreed with tho objects which the president sought to achieve by carrying the motion. Personally he did not bet with the bookmakers, and ho did not bflieve that anv member of the conference did ; but he thought the rule was too drastic, and too much like interfering With the liberty of the subject. It had surprised him to learn quite recently how manv people in good positions were in the habit of betting with bookmakers, tie failed to see, however, how the rule Svas going to be enforced if it were parried. If the conference was really desirous of nrohibiting double betting with bookmakers, why not bring pressure to bear 011 Parliament to get back the double totalisator?. Voices: Hear, hear. Mr. W. F. M. Buckley thought the new rale was going too far, and that it would lead to all sorts of trickery and deception. It would mean that an owner was penalised and prevented from doing what all his friends would be privileged to do. It seemed to him that the „oiv rule would lead to trouble and he was npnosed to it. •Sir George M'Lean hoped that tho motion would be carried. Tho totalisator was the medium of speculation given to them by legislation, and it was for them to show by their votes that thev upheld tho law. Mr. H. 51. Speed asked why could tho public not be brought in. He had heard it stated that they could not be brought under the rule, but he had heard no reason. The president: Will yon move an 'nmpndmeyit in that direction? Mr. Speed; "No, I don't know that. I will, sir." He added that he had been merely inouiring for the reason. Mr. E. A. Price announced himself as a supporter of the motion. It would he a most damaging thing to racing if the motion were defeated. President's strong Reply. In reply, the president said that if the conference did not carry this they ivould be guilty of great hypocrisy, and all their expressed efforts io rid the turf of abuses would be as so much veneer and sham. It was absolutely necessary they should do something to couvinco tho public that, as guardians of racing, they waie unanimous in their . desiie to put dowu abutes. Betting by

owners, trainers, ana joraeys was tne greatest abuse he knew—and the most dangerous. They were eternally appealing to the Government to rid their courses and . streets of bookmakers, and the Government looked to the conference for assistance. Yet here they were refraining from saying that owners shall not bet. He called it disastrous. He hoped the conference would not hesitate to carry the resolution, nor to give amplo effect to it when it was carried. He was convinced that double betting was ono of the chief evils, when the first leg of the double won, every inducement was brought to bear by those who stood to lose, and nefarious methods were used to prevent tho double from being "brought off." He personally had never bet with hookmakers. The bookmaker would take advantage of means his client would not stoop to, and the ciient. would be beaten every time. Again, tho money on the totalisator was distributed anions: the public and did not go to tho maintenance of men who wore of 110 earthly use to tho community at all. It had been said that they could not catch the owners. He hoped it. was not necessary to catcli tliem like a lot of schoolboys.' But the rule would impose 'on them a moral obligation that would restrain them from patronising the bookmakers and tho public would follow tho example of the owners and gradually como to believe that it was a discreditable thing to bet with the bookmakers. "I do hope," concluded the president, "that those who have expressed an opinion acrainst this resolution will reconsider the matter and not- allow the votes of prominent clubs to he cast in a way so deleterious to the interests of racimr." (Applause.)' The new rulo 011 beint; put to the conference was adopted by 29 votes to 4. ... Subsequently on the motion of the it was agreed "that, it he an instruction to licensing bodies to refill ire from all licensed trainers and jockeys an undertaking;' neither directlv nor- indirectly to 'make any wnn-er with a bookmaker wliilo so licensed."