ATTACK ON THE "TOTE."

Shannon News, 19 April 1929, Page 4

ATTACK ON THE "TOTE."

"A THROTTLE GRIP."

NEW ZEALAND AS AN EXAMPLE

LONDON, February 15

"Sporting Life" continues its protests against the totalisator. The journal has received a communication from a correspondent, calling attention to the p:actical working of the totalisator in New Zealand. He contends that it has a throttle grip on racing there.

"Tie information he supplies to us," says "Sporting Life," "is of a startling character. The example of New Zealand should give pause to those who have been examining this matter through rose-coloured spectacles.

"There are four kinds of deductions. The first is a levy of 2* per cent, on the sums invested. Those who are fortunate enough to back the Avinners 'have a further 5 per cent, deducted from their dividends.

"Ther-3 U a sum of 2£ per cOnt. payable on gate money fees received by clubs for licenses to persons other than jockeys and trainers, etc., and there is the huge levy of 18 per cent, on the value of stakes or prizes given by racing clubs. "Percentages were on a more modest scale originally, but the Government has made betting in Ncav Zealand a monopoly in theory, and in return thev claim their full pound of flesh.

"We have emphasised that it is only in theory that betting in NeAV Zealand is confined to the machines. The law there is evaded with as much impunity as the Bets Tax in this country.

"The reason is not far to seek. It is a law that cannot be enforced. It would pass the Avit of man 1o devise means to prevent residents in New Zealand from betting in the manner that most appeals to them, just as the Government of Groat Britain is absolutely hopeless against the determination on the part of scores of thousands of people not to pay the Bets Tax. THE LATEST FIGURES.

"The latest figures from New- Zealand as to the extent to which the totalisator was used there during the last racing year are interesting. The amount of the stakes invested was £7,634,077. The backers received from the machine the sums invested by them less £1,145,030. What that means is that for the exceedingly small service rendered by the totalisator the backers had to pay nearly one-sixth of their total investments. If we pat it at about 3/6 in every £1 Ave are approximately correct. "That illustrates the'point we have so Often made —that the machine is a remorseless devourer of capital. Every bet made has to yield its quota, and that quota is never returned to the pooh The totalisator always takes, but never gives. In effect, it acts for a brief period as guardian of the money entrusted to it, and for that unimportant service it makes a charge that would bring joy 1o the most usurious 'money-lender."