TOO MUCH RACING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2838, 27 January 1925, Page 2

TOO MUCH RACING.

“In my opinion,” said a wellknown official in racing circles, to our representative recently, there are too many racing permits issued in this country. In fact we are more liberally served here in New Zealand than in any other part of the Empire, and I cannot understand why the Government has granted an increase. I am hot against racing within proper limits, but there is no doubt it is overdone in this country and is responsible for the dislocation of business with consequent reduced production. Referring to the money which is handled by bookmakers, be expressed the opinion that at least half as much again as was invested on the totalise Im- passed through the hands of the bookmakers. Tie expressed the opinion that bookmaking transactions would he considerably reduced if people could telegraph their investments direct to the totalisatnr. ITe admitted bookmaking was a difficult problem to handle but if these gentry were subjected to a minimum! fine on conviction, of £SOO or a year’s imprisonment, their number would certainly diminish, “in any ease,” lie concluded, “there is far too much racing in this young country, which certainly lias a, demoralising tendency.”