AN ENTERPRISING “BOOKIE.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2863, 26 March 1925, Page 4

AN ENTERPRISING “BOOKIE.”

TOO LIBERAL

SQUEEZED OUT OF TOWN. (By “Wnndcroo” in the Elthnm Argus.) This is a true stotv, and it is lint So very long since the event look place. There are obvious reasons why I should not say where it all happened. I will merely mention that it was not in Taranaki. A well-dressed stranger arrived in a town where the lii'e of the people is largely dominated hv sport, particularly the sport of horse-racing. The stranger soon made it known that he was a “wool-broker,” and would he glad to meet gentlemen who belonged to the great army of punters. Tie freely exhibited his bank book, just to let Ibe punters know that if he was strnek for a few thousand pounds lie could face the music and not disappoint his clients. The credit balance shown in his hook inspired conlidence amongst the punters, and lie soon commenced lo do a good business. But what principally endeared him to the speculators was the fact that he ignored placing a limit upon the dividends. Xu paltry J(7 10s limit for him; what the machine paid he would pay, no matter what the amount. When this bomb-shell burst amongst the brokers [here was consternation in their camp. A rival who placed no limit upon Ihe dividends was a “scab”; he was ignoring one of the lines! and noblest principles of his brother artists, something would have to he done, and p. d. ]>. ill that, or their business would quickly go to the demiiition how wows. And something was done. In a very short time the offending wool broker got the tip that the police were on his track, and if he didn’t .leave the town lie would certainly lie called upon to interview the magistrate. II was soon shown to him that the people opposed to him meant business. If he remained in the town there was sufficient evidence to send him as high as a kite. He hauled down his Hag, sought for fresh pastures, and the brokers whose business he bad so rashly interfered with had a merrymaking over his departure. And now they flourish like a green hay tree and hug lo their honest bosoms the £< 10s limit.