TOTALISATOR TO BE ASKED FOR

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1929, Page 2

TOTALISATOR TO BE ASKED FOR

APPLICATION FOR AUCKLAND SPEEDWAY.

AUCKLAND, Nov. 27.

The decision to apply to.the Government for permission to instal a totalisator at Henning speedway at Mangere was made at a meeting of the committee of the Auckland Automobile Racing CJub, Limited. It is proposed that the totalisator should be used for the first time at the motorcar and motor-cycle races on December 7h. It was stated that if a permit was graiited no difficulty would be experienced in installing a totalisator for the forthcoming meeting. - Various members expressed the opinion that since betting was permitted on ..horse races, there was no logical reason why it should not be allowed on motor races. Betting on contests were permitted in all other countries w r here sport was followed. Under the existing legislation the use of the totalisator is confined to horse racing, Auckland clergymen appear to be unanimous in condemning any suggestion of offering facilities to people to bet on motor racing, and at the first sign of the application being given serious consideration they will rise and vigorously oppose it. The Rev. Jasper Calder was most outspoken. “I have been associated with sport all my life,” he said, “and I have no hesitation in saying there are too many totalisator permits now. The only way to keep sport clean is to cut out betting. The cleanest sports to-day are tennis, cricket, and yachting. If you want my straight out opinion, I say: ‘To hell with the tote.’ You can use those words. For the sake of everyone let us keep our sport clean.”