Where Books and Totalisator Operate

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 478, 6 October 1928, Page 6

Where Books and Totalisator Operate

BETTING IN SYDNEY That racing in New Zealand lia-s become commercialised and is a business has to be admitted nowadays, but these remarks apply with much greater emphasis in Australia, writes “Vedette,” who recently returned from a trip to Sydney. One needs only a very short and mild introduction into racing circles in Sydney to realise the difference in atmosphere from that of the Dominion. No attempt is to be made here to discuss betting, on or off the racecourse or gambling of any kind, from a moral or social angle. That question is such a highly contentious one that general agreement of any kind is impossible. In this article an attempt is made to view racing and its associations from the standpoint of Australian customs, further, a brief description is given of the palatial premises of Tattersall’s Club, the scene of “settling-day,” where tens of thousands of pounds changed hands over the first two days’ racing at Randwiek. Two Mediums of Betting Every practical New Zealand racing man who goes to Australia becomes convinced sooner or later that the fairest system of betting on racing for all concerned is the combination of bookmaker and totalisator. The bookmaker supplies the needs of the men most concerned, owners and trainers, and those who have big interests in racing. From experience it has been shown that the professional racing man, where possible, ignores the totallsator and deals wholly with the bookmaker. Tho reason is obvious. He is able to negotiate all his bets at an arranged price, and then is at liberty to pass the glad news along to his friends. Under the totalisator system, there is the compulsory evasion of one’s friends, and at times, too, evasions of the truth. More satisfactory prices and results can be obtained from the bookmaker by the professional and semi-professional racing man, and those who have invested huge sums in the racing business. Their interests deserve consideration as well as those of the public. The racing public is entitled to the tqtalisator, and the mechanical wagering system should be retained at all costs. It will be shown later that both State and racing clubs derive plenty of revenue from the bookmakers in taxes and general charges. The status’ of the bookmaker in Australia is different from that generally understood in New Zealand. There are, of course, bookmakers—and bookmakers. That is recognised by the men of standing themselves. That many are recognised as leading citizens is only stating a fact. Mr. J. Dunningham, who is Mayor of Randwick and recently elected to the State Parliament as the Cogee representative, is a leading bookmaker and treasurer of Tattersall’s Club. He is recognised on all sides as an acquisition to the State Government and an admirable citizen. Taxes And Fees A leading bookmaker, but not by any means one of the biggest, has supplied some figures in regard to taxation and general costs. He fields at Randwick and the other meetings in the Sydney Metropolitan area, and at Menajigle and one or two outside meetings. He estimated his expenses, including the wages of two clerks on the course, and racecourse admission fees —for although bookmakers pay big sums for the privilege of betting on courses, they still have to pay for admission—at about £2,500 a year. First of all, all betting tickets carry a tax of 3d a ticket, and they are procured from the Government Printing Office at the rate of £l2 17s 6d a 1,000. Naturally, a bookmaker with a large cash betting connection finds this costly, for the big bettor, who has a credit account and take the odds to several hundreds in one wager, costs his bookmaker only 3d for the bet, whereas the small of 10s still costs the layer the same sum. For booked bets the bookmakers are required by law to make a statutory declaration each month. This 3d tax a ticket is a bone of contention among the bookmakers, and the Government hardly seems alive to its own interests that it does not make the ipx one on turnover. It is obviously ridiculous that a £IOO wager should carry only a tax of 3d, the same as the modest ten shillings bet. Bookmakers with a big cash business use 1,500 tickets on busy days at Randwiek. Costly Privileges In addition to this each paddock bookmaker pays yearly to the A.J.C. £lO5 for the privilege of betting at Randwiek and £7O for Warwick Farm. The Government takes a share of this and another £75 in addition as tax for the right to bet. For Rosehill, Canterbury Park, Moorefield another £2O has to be paid, and £l4 to the Government for Gosford and Menangle. On top of this is the land and income tax, no rebates being allowed on account of previous taxation. As there are some 140 bookmakers licensed for the paddock at Randwiek some idea can be gained of their contributions to racing clubs and the Treasury. The foregoing has dealt with the paddock enclosure only. In the leger and on the flat at Randwiek there are together some 300 licensed layers. Of course they pay proportionately smaller fees, but their contribution must amount to a considerable sum, and the threepence ticket tax is general for all enclosures. Added to this is a similar sale of taxing and registering for the pony courses. Many A.J.C. bookmakers operate there when there are no registered meetings, but there are some bookmakers who bet only at the A.R.C. fixtures. No figures were available to show the amount contributed in New South Wales to the general fund m the taxation, but yearly it must amount to a huge sum. The public, to get down to bedrock, pays it all whether through bookmaker or totalisator, but if seems obvious that the layer has been compelled to become a good tax gatherer as well as the machine. The Club’s Premises Tattersall’s Club, opened last year, is the last word in comfort and organisation. It is regarded as the governing organisation in regard to betting, and in its huge lounge room is done all the main settling after big and small meetings in Sydney. The club is not wholly a betting one, but has a. decided social side, and its residential portion compares more than favourably with the best hotel accommodation in Sydney. The club’s secretary, Mr. T. T. Manning, keeps an efficient eye on the whole organisation, and he was sent especially to America before the club was rebuilt to obtain the latest ideas. Members have every convenience under the roof, with swimming pool, gymnasium, barber’s An. old Maori woman was planting potatoes and as she shoved each tuber into the ground she called it by the name of one of the principal living chiefs or dead heroes of an adjoining tribe. This led to the latter dispatching an ultimatum that unless the potatoes were immediately destroyed they would wipe out in blood the insulting tribe. The reason was that when the potatoes became ready for the pot the old woman would be able to declare that she was not only devouring the living chiefs, but also feeding upon the defunct ones; likewise the manufacturers of Dill’s Best Tobacco are punctilious about the reputation of this fine tobacco, and they have for marv years acted steadfastly to their pledge that “as better tobacco is grown it will find its way into Dill’s Best.” —1

shop, bar. buifet, dining room, billiard room, card room, and forty bedrooms, . fifteen of which have private bath- j rooms. On settling day the club is a hive j of activity, and the portals are jealously guarded. For non-members who have to pay or receive, a large room • is provided in the basement, where a ; good deal of business is disposed of. In the largo lounge room all the big busi- j ness is transacted, and on heavy set- j tlings the amount of currency in evidence leaves a newcomer astounded. : As an example, one commissioner alone collected £44.000 on the settling day j for Tattersall’s meeting, most of which ! was won on Rail on i. Affairs of Honour Tho most amazing feature of it all ; is the moral of the betting- Just by ! word of mouth are bets made for thousands of pounds. An ordinary j business deal involving a similar sum ‘would mean a trip to a lawyer’s office and signed and stamped legal documents with pains and penalties for the j sins of omission or commission. From what could be learned seldom is there i any trouble in regard to the settlement of these big wagers. Occasionally there is a dispute, and the club’s committee J investigates and decides the matter, j •‘Taking the knock.” or failing to ful- j fil obligations oi* settling day is rare, and naturally once a man’s credit is ( questioned, it has gone. In every way the conduct of affairs is a credit to j those most concerned, and the officials realise that in their own interests they ' have to govern themselves and their j fellows. If in the cycle of events the layers arc legalised in New Zealand, an institution such as Tattersall’s Club, rigidly controlled, should be a necessity in the interests of the bookmakers and the racing people in general. The Sydney Club shows what can be done.