RACING CONFERENCE AND BOOKMAKERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3818, 14 July 1928, Page 2

RACING CONFERENCE AND BOOKMAKERS.

At the annual Racing Conference held at Christchurch yesterday, the presidental address made the following reference to bookmakers: — “I may be pardoned for referring to the use that has been made by the opponents of the totalisator in the Old Country of certain comments we have made upon unjust exactions of the Government, as if they might be construed into hostility on our part to the system. On the contrary, it cannot be too clearly emphasised that we attribute the satisfactory conditions of the Turf in New Zealand to the continued operations of the totalisator system, in contrast to the many abuses where the bookmaker controls the only system of speculation. So far from having any sympathy with the bookmaker as providing any advantages in the conduct of' pure racing, we appeal to the Government to refrain from permitting the telegraph offices to be utilised for the already illegalised business of bookmaking. We have protested against the provision for appeal by bookmakers convicted of offences under the 1920 Act from a Magistrate’s decision to that of a jury. It has proved mischievous, and should be rescinded. Bookmakers appear to be ever ready to pay the inadequate fines imposed by a Magistrate, but imprisonment for offences by the illegal bookmaker would be quite otherwise effective. We again ask for the withdrawal of the right of appeal permitted by the 1920 Act. It is calculated that so far as the Telegraph Department is interested that the transmission of private investments would be more profitable as well as more helpful than its present use by the law-breaking bookmaker.”