BOOKMAKING IN POST OFFICE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1929, Page 2

BOOKMAKING IN POST OFFICE

SYDNEY DISCLOSURES. SECRET TELEPHONES FOUND. AUCKLAND, July 16. “Sensational disclosures ha»e follow ed recent investigations by the Pos. master-General’s department into th operations of starting price bookina. ers in Sydney and suburbs,” says th- “ Star’s” Sydney correspondent. “The latest move by the departmen was the dismissal this week of thm General Post Office employees who, 1 is alleged by the department, liav been operating as registered bookniah ers on various racecourses in the mei ropolitan area. Twenty other Genera Post Office employees, also alleged L have been bookmakers, are awaitin; the deliberations of a departmental inquiry committee.

“It was only recently that high officials gained an idea of the vast net work of starting price bookmaker, which the Pos.master-General’s Department was supporting almost free ocost. A series of circumstances coi, nected with the dismissal of an employee some months ago disclosed tha a number, of offices in, the city were connected with-racecourse telephone by a system of secret wiring, which hai. been carried out, by a number .of General Post Office mechanics and switch board attendants. From these office in the city starring price boo km nisei could by simply lifting their receiver. l be connected to the official box fron where the progress of each race is called for Press and officials. All hettin changes ;.find pest positions and running 'during the race were obtained b starting'price bookmakers. in the<cit f : through these secret telephones and extensive betting businesses were carrier out in consequence. It was not until . dispute arose between a Postal Department employee and one of the starling price bookmakers that the departmental heads discovered the ramifications of the system. It was disclose* then that tiie secret wiring system had been in operation for several years, and that offices to which telephone had been connected had not paid for or made any application for the instal--mtion of these instruments.

“Pints and 'disclosures made ai these departmental inquiries' ! hkl L still fun her investigations by the De-puty-Postmaster (Air J. W. Ivitto) and it has since been established, Ik said this week, that even the mail counters . of' the General Post Offiu have been used as starting price hot ting deposits. Several employees ii. the stamp selling department, it was discovered, spent the greater part ol their time on race days in taking bets under cover of legitimate business. Up to 100 officers of the department have been transferred recently to the country and three dismissals, from the service this week are said to he the crowning effort of the departmental Heads to rid the General Post Office of the starting price betting evil. “Starting price betting has reached enormous proportions in New South Wales, and in fact all over Australia. Each M r eek the police make raids on various shops and houses where operations are carried on. In a case at North Sydfley recently the police during a raid discovered a hook in which 2500 bets were made on races for one day alone.' The amounts invested by bettors ranged from one shilling to £2 10s. They discovered an elaborate wireless installation capable of listening in to any station in the Commonwealth. Alany of the big city starting price bookmakers have offices elaborately fitted up with lounge chairs and smoking rooms, where clients, after making their bet may wait for the result of races, usually received either through a radio set, or by telephone.”