THE BOOKMAKER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3531, 20 July 1920, Page 5

THE BOOKMAKER.

DRASTIC SUPPRESSION BILL. Drastic .provisions, aiming at the complete suppression of the bookmaker, are contained in the amendment to the Training Act, introduced by Mr Anderson. Clause 2 reads: "The business or occupation of a bookmaker is, hereby declared to be unlawful. Every person carrying on such business, or occupation commits an offence against this Act. and is liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of £SOO or to imprisonment for a term of two years." Another clause imposes a fine up to £IOO or one month's imprisonment for the offence of betting with a bookmaker. In any prosecution the fact that a person indirectly or directly has offered to take a bet, or has issued a card or circular stating odds, shall be sufficient evidence, until the contrary be proved, that such a person is a bookmaker. Investments on the totalisator are not affected, nor are isolated bets between individuals. Clause 5 reads: "No person shall be deemed to commit an offence against this Act, by reason merely of the fact that he has made a bet with any other person upon any particular event, unless it is part of the business or occupation of either of such persons to make bets." The former •provisions of the 1910 Act, relating to betting in the street, racecourse, public places, and the right of racecourse authorities to remove bookmakers from the course after warning them to desist from betting, are repealed, and there is a new clause empowering the removal of bookmakers without warning.