The Guardian FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1929. RACING LEGISLATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1929, Page 4

The Guardian FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1929. RACING LEGISLATION.

It was disclosed last week, both in Parliament and at the Racing Conference, that racing legislation is to be brought forward this session. As a matter of fact the Gaming Bill was introduced ] by Sir George Hunter and passed fts first reading in the House. The measure is a very snort one, designed to permit the publication in the news- ; papers of totalisator dividends, and also legalise money being sent by post or telegraph to Racing or Trotting •Clubs for investment on the totalisator. The fact that these two ordinary matters of detail are to-day illegal, and that it is an offence to publish a dividend or for an individual to send money to a Club for investment, will be a surprise to most people on'side of New Zealand. Such grandmotherly legislation does not exist in any other country. The prohibition as it stands is practically the life-blood of the bookmaking fraternity. They of course are not supposed to exist, but not being law abiding they 7 ply their calling very freely, not to say openly, and go almost unscathed. Now and again someone is caught, mostly minor offenders. The big fish do not get into the net very often. Yet this illegitimate law-breakng practice is rampant in the Ponuniou, The fact that there

are subtle ways of securing investments is availed of by the public. Per medium of agents or through the principals themselves, the illicit betting goes on daily all over New Zealand. Further, when meetings take place it is possible to glean very promptly particulars of the dividends paid. This means that the prohibition does not prohibit, but suggests at once the means to circumvent the law, and that is done very freely. Betting is not diminished by reason of the prohibition, for it is clear the betting public who are numerous, are determined to speculate on racing events, and the channel, illegal though it may be, is soon discovered and patronised. By this means the bookmaking fraternity has become well established and is reaping illegally a profit, which under proper control would pass legally to the State, and the Clubs. The more money passing through the totalisator the better it is for the State Treasury by way of the totalisator and .dividend tax levied on the percentage basis on money handled by the Clubs. The Clubs in turn, by a larger turn-over would be entitled to an increased sum derived through its share of the percentage. In the case of money telegraphed to the Clubs, it has been calculated by Government officials that if the procedure were legalised, the increased income to the Post and Telegraph Office- would not be less than £35,000 per annum. That sum .is outside the Government revenue from percentage taxation. The income from that already is over half-a-million, and is collected through the Clubs with practically very little cost to the administration. It will be seen therefore that the State is likely to derive a greatly increased income if the amendments to the Gaming Act are carried, and of course there will be some extra return to the Clubs. The Bill now before the House is in the hands of a private member, but it is believed if it passes the second reading stage, the measure is likely to he taken up by the Government and put through. That fate, according to a counting of heads is likely to come to pass, which means that a useless and unobserved prohibition w'Tl he removed from the Statute Book, and the public who take so much interest in racing will be able to follow their inclinations in enjoying the sport by hacking their opinion in quite a legitimate and lawful manner. This return to common sense is surely to be welcomed.