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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3747, 28 January 1928, Page 3

(To the Editor).

iSir, —Apropos of the subject of a letter- that appeared in your issue of Thursday last. I do not think, sir, that both sides of the question re the falling off in the totalisator returns for the last meeting, Avere sufficiently aired, and in this connection the steAvards of the Club are in a measure to blame, for had a ten shilling tote been provided to enable those of limited means to invest on their choice, then perhaps the falling off Avould not have been so great. One steward is alleged to have expressed the opinion that any one unable to invest a pound at a time should not go to races. If that statecent is true, cannot he understand that that inability and the lack of a ten shilling tote is Avhat tempts a large number of investors to break the IaAV and patronise the bookies. If every one Avho stayed away, who could not afford to risk a pound, then the tote Avould be scrapped and the club. Avould have to Avind up. It is common knoAVledge that large numbers of racegoers pool to make up a ticket. My opinion is that a ten-shilling tote would assist the clnb financially. It has been my pleasure to attend other larger and smaller meetings, and in many cases, where the ten shilling tote is run, -to see but very little support given to the bookie. As to the complaint made by “Sport,” re bookies, it is a AvellknoAvn fact that there are at least, six operating in Foxton in season and out, one particular bobkie has been kicked out of a. local shop, before to-day, where he was openly plying his trade among youthful employees, not to forget the fact that some have lost good positions primarly through these parasites. Am I Avrong Avlien I say that, the police have poAver to search without Avarrant, those individuals, personally, and residentially.? Perhaps a word to the wise will be sufficient. What is needed is a surprise visit, unaccompanied by local representatives of the Police Force, for it is surely time those parasites Avho prey on the local sports “and many of those sports are only youths,” were made an example of irrespective of their business calling.—Yours, etc. GLEAN SPORT.