SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 66, 14 April 1909, Page 4

SPORTING.

Commenting editorially on that highly undesirable and nefarious individual, the "iwelsher," the Hawera Star observes: — "The racing clubs do not like the presence of the bookmaker, but, to put the position frankly, 'they are afraid to join in the agitation for the abolition of the ; ■books' lest in the general sweep they should lose their tofalisator permits. Tt i has been urged by some of our contem- ■ poraries that racing clubs should only ! issue licenses to reputable bookmakers, ] but in our opinion it is asking too much ! that clubs should go to the trouble of ; checking the history, honesty, and j financial standing of applicants for li- j censes. Again- the clubs say that since; they must license bookmakers the morej licenses they sell the better. Ten book- j makers would take as much business j from the totalisator as fifteen, and tli'-'j clubs might ufi well have the advantage! of the extra license fees. The rcspoa- j sibility, we think, rests with the Government and'not with the racing clubs. The Government, has given the 'oooks.' the legal right to bet, and it should at least see that the public get something.' like a fair deal. A remedy JOr the •welsher' is simple. At the first opportunity next session, if Parliament does not remove the bookmaker altogether, it should at least amend its legislation j by providing that every application fotr a' bookmaker's license shall be accompanied by a guarantee ofj say, £IOO. that all wagers made will be promptly settled. Another way out of the difficulty would bo the establishment of a Tat'tersalls. the society of bookmaker* to be jointly responsible for the wag*T*. of its individual members. A iiiovcmmfi for the formation of some such society has, we understand, been on foot far some 'time, but the scheme does not seem likely to be completed without, legislative compulsion. In one. way or the o*?ier the public should be -protoetcd. and it is for the Govcrnm? Nt winch made this wholesale robbery ipossibte to apply the remedy."