THE TOTALISATOR PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1920, Page 4

THE TOTALISATOR PROBLEM

Alembers even yet have not quite recovered from,the effects of Alonday’s all night sitting of the House and weary bodies and frayed nerves are coming back only slowly to their normal condition. There lias been time, however, to- survey the position, and it does not appear to be very satisfactory to either of the contending parties. The opponents of Air Hunter’s Bill professed on Wednesday morning to believe they had secured a decisive victory, but Air Alassey’s proposal to take authority to isSuo increased totalisator permits on tho recommendation of a commission in consultation with tho Minister of Internal Affairs has' considerably discomfited them. Tho adoption of this proposal, as it is at present understood, would mean the substitution of political control for sporting control, and though Air Isitt and his friends love the Racing Conference very little they trust Ministers rather less. THE PROBABLE OUTCOME.

Probably the outcome of the' whole turmoil will be the postponement of any effective action till next session. Air Massey and Air G. J. Anderson, the, Ministers most closely concerned in the matter, both attribute the demand for more permits to what they call the unfair manner in which the existing permits are distributed. They are obsessed by a notion that the Racing Conference is an autocratic body which is in no way representative of popular opinion or eveir of sporting opinion, and that its privileges and powers must he very drastically curtailed. So far they seem to have taken no trouble to ascertain anything about the constitution'-or the functions of the Conference and to have give no thought to what would happen to racing if that body w - ent out of existence.. One good purpose may he served by the proposed commission in instructing Afinisters on these matters.