BETTING TELEGRAMS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 157, 6 July 1916, Page 4

BETTING TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. July 5. The Postmaster-General was aikeelin' Mr. Young to-day whether hejb aware shat the Post and Telegraph E® partment. to the advantage of bool? makers, accepts betting telegrams for transmission within the Dominion, and whether he will take steps to exercise to the utmost all the powers vested irr him to suppress this abuse of the post and 'telegraphy which mostly takes place immediately prior to and on the days of race meetings. Sir Joseph Ward replied that there is already a regulation prohibiting the transmission of telegrams as under: —• “Telegrams in plain language relating to betting or investments on the totalisator, or in coded language reasonably supposed to relate to betting, or investments on the totalisator in. coded language, reasonably supposed to relate to betting or investments on the totalisator, addressed to any person who has been convicted of any offence relating to betting or investments on the totalisator, and any money order telegram addressed to any such person.’’ This regulation is strictly exercised. Mr Young said surely the Postmaster General was aware of the uses to wlyiph the post, telegraph and telephone"services were put in the purpose* pLbookinakers? In this way, gambl'nfg •'on credit, which was the worst possible form of gambling, was greatly encouraged. Some of the richest men in the community were bookmakers. and! many young men who patronised them got into trouble by betting into their debt, and then trying to save themselves by misappropriating their, ployers’ money. Could not the Po*>ai Department stop the post and telegraph offices being used in this mam per?