GAOL FOR BOOKMAKER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 405, 13 July 1928, Page 6

GAOL FOR BOOKMAKER

EXTRACT from the President’, address to the New Zealand Racing Conference at Christchurch to-day:— 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 illegatised 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 It has proved mischievous, and should be rescinded.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.