FEES FOR FIELDING.

NZ Truth, Issue 138, 8 February 1908, Page 2

FEES FOR FIELDING.

Woodville's Wants. The local bookmakers who applied for licenses at the .Woodville meeting have been advised that the stewards have decided to charge £20 per day both m tlie paddock and .oh the flat and a further charge ol 10s per day for each clerk. Now, the Woodville people know their own business best, but I think their action is a very ill-advised one and sooner or later will recoil on them. In a case like this they are only forcing the Government to administer the Act more stringently, and if they persist some permits may be vacant next season--7 In ;thc , past .the .fcT.ub.si have . had. a very open' go' at plucking the public, arid ribw ; when Parliament says • the bookmaker is to have an equal chance the cluns ive doing their best to render the Act nugatory. Parliament will be dealing with the Gamine Act next session, when, I understand, some amendments are. to be made, or are to be proposed, and at the same, time it will be quite easy for the Premier to put m a clause enabling the Government to collect 5 percent, on all fees paid by bookmakers. ' •■".■> At the last Trentham meeting such a tax Would have brought m £100 to the public purse, and about £8000 pet annum could be obtained from the .different clubs m the Dominion. -.