THE TOTALISATOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8146, 2 July 1906, Page 3

THE TOTALISATOR.

['• By MorrnoA."]

The subject ot totalisalor reform or abolition is still receiving the attention of writers in some purls of the colony. There is uo doubt that in the interest of true sport in New Zealand, the time lias fully arrived for demanding strong remedial measures. At a meeting of the Council of the Churches held at Wellington last week, the llcv. J. J. North stated: "The latest return showed the totalisalor inveslmeiits in France for one year were £0,000,000, whereas in New Zealand, with a popu. lalion a thirliethas large as that of France, the investment.-, were £1.500,. 000, ehielly because 7', per cent, of the amount was paid to the Bacing Clubs. In France 2 per cent, was paid to charities, and 1 per cent, to flic Minister for Agr'culturc." This enormous percentage has been a splendid source of revenue, and enabled Clubs to cairy on their work successfully, and vie with each other in having the liesl equipped ground, but, unfortunately, there are many Clubs which have abused this assistance and at whose meetings ihe amount of the totalisalor receipts forms the chief- if not only— matter for consideration by Ihe stewards. In fad the meeting " begins and ends with totalisator receipts." On how many occasion- is the start of a race delayed in order to extract every possible shilling out of the public y Even this is not sulh'cicnt, for when a person enters the gates of sonic racecourses, he is prevented by every possible means from communicating uith the outside world until he has been encouraged lo spend his last cenl. A race meeting such as this has degenerated into a money-making concern to the dclnmcnl of all true sport, For there is not the slightest doubt that the result of some races is considerably affected by late starling. An excitable horse is not benefited by being piraili'd at the post for a long delayed -tart.

Tho totalisator is undoubtedly the cnuse of tin' very li\p|ro number of rate meetings liciJ throughout the colony, and is I hereby responsible for the increased opporhiniiics for gambling. If, instead of devoting 7\ per cent, to the Clubs, a small percentage only were giyeD theni, and the balance devoted to various charities, many of these evils would be lessened, if not entirely expunged,

"It is no doubt true as Mr Sleadlias urged," itates the >'cw Zcakad

Times, " that the large Clubs devote the totalisalor gains to (he purposes of sport by increasin,; eir prize money and adding to the appointments of their grounds; but the fact remains that a large number of small Clubs carry on their alleged sport amid the most squalid surroundings, and make no effort to secure even common decency and honesty in connection with their meetings. Tt would be a distinct gain to the community, and to the cause, if such disreputable clubs were wiped out of existence. The large Clubs do not now require the profit from the tolalisator; the smuu Clubs have proved that they do noi unserve it." iime In the writer's .opinion, the mac proby paying a second dividend, also uciv vides encouragement for betting. T iaiare many people who would often h tate before nuking an investment if only one chance of winning were offered. . If racing clubs and the nvjinj community have a genuine desire to retain and elevate the sport in New Zealand, let them use their best endeavours to either reform the totalisator or secure its abolition.