THE TOTALISATOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 159, 4 January 1912, Page 2

THE TOTALISATOR.

THE NEW SOUTH WALES COMMISSION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Yesterday. The New South Wales Totalisator Commissioners heard the Eevs. Howard Elliott and D. D. Scott, representing the Auckland Ministers' Association, who came forward at the request of the' commissioners. Both clergymen were present at Ellerslie races yesterday. Mr. Elliott contended that the totalisator encouraged betting. There were people who would bet with the totalisator who would not bet with the bookmaker. The totalisator lent an appearance of respectaMity and safety. If compelled to novo the totalisator or bookmakerMie wouli have the totalisator on the Understanding that all the money went to the municipalities. Replying to a statement that the totalisator enabled big prize money to be given, witness stated -that the prize money in New South Wales was far greater than the average prize money in New Zealand. Witness knew that touting for totalisator betting existed to a very great extent. Touts visited factories and workshops, gathered sixpences and shillings from boys and girls, who were not themselves allowed to attend races, and readily supported the totalisator tout. A bookmaker's tout could not do this under the existing law, but totalisator touts could.