The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1933. GAMING LEGISLATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1933. GAMING LEGISLATION.

'The discussion in the House lasa week on an amendment proposed to the Gaming Act, indicated that of those who spoke there was a favourable disposition towards amending the act in the direction sought for some time past by the racing and trotting clubs, .particularly in the direction of permitting money to he sent to clubs for investment on the totalisator and the publication of dividends. The present period has had its adverse

effect cm sport as on other avenues. In the matter of totalisator investments for instance, there has been a substantial drop. In 1930 the totalisator investments were over seven millions. Last year the total was leiss than half. In the same period, stakes fell from *>576,920 to £352.173. As regards Government revenue, that dropped from £551,123 from racing in 1930, to £354,909 in 1932, The Government and the club' share in the revenue the greater part accruing to the former. Fbr instance in 1932, while the Government received from the totalisator and stakes taxes, £354,999, the share to the clubs from totalisator investments was £283,554. *_r.d while the chibs received the last named amount, they gave in stakes a much greater sum, namely £352,173. As at present the bookmaking fraternity is in active opposition to the legalised totalisator, a large sum of money is diverted in connection with every meeting from the 'totalisator. It is well understood that that is the position, and little is done to check the illegal belting carried on as it is in such a wholesale maimer. One method of meeting the underground opposition i.? by permitting investments to he sent to clubs, which is not legal at present. It L believed this would n'ssist the postal and telegraphic revenue by a sum exceeding £40,000 annually, and of course the totalisator returns would show a. large increase, and the Government and clubs would benefit financially! Now that the Government is hard pressed for revenue

and is exploring so many avenues which are not always popular, here is an opportunity to pick up extra money by n simple process which would be quite legitimate. The need for this is emphasised specially now by reason of the changing system of distributing dividends. Under the win and place system the bookmakers are said to be feeling the new line of opposition which affords a higher range of dividends on the average than the limits of the bookmakers’ dividends permit. Probably all the clubs may not be able to ndo.nt the new system owing to the contraction of fields, and they will continue to he penalised by the illegal

opposition, and the Government will also lose money. With the present financial stringency it is reasonable to oxneet the authorities to realise the position in. regard to extra revenue to ho secured from racing by a simple amendment of the act, and that action should not bo longer delayed. In help- , jug themselves the Government will also assist the clubs which are doing so much in many wavs to assist the national revenue.