TOTALISATOR COMMISSION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 322, 11 July 1912, Page 5

TOTALISATOR COMMISSION

DIVIDED OPINION. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Received 10, 9.10 p.m. Sydney, July 10. The Totalisator Commission's report has been published. The majority report is against the machine. Members, after stating that the enquiry was thorough and comprehensive, say that the bulk of the evidence was tendered by interested persons. The general public, who 11ml the whole of the money, were singularly apathetic. The machine undoubtedly provides a fair system of betting, and to a very large extent lessens the evils of credit betting, but it does not .suppress the worst forms of street and shop betting. Perhaps to a lesser extent this

flourishes in New Zealand than in other | States. The totalisator is fascinating, j and attracts many who would not bet ] with the bookmaker. It is natural to assume that its introduction would increase betting. Bettors believing that racing has already reached abnormal proportions in the metropolitan area feel unjustified in helping to increase facilities. "We view with apprehension," says the report, "the growth of bettng, believing that it has an unsettling effect on the community, and are convinced that the introduction of the machine j would not cure but would add to the! existing evils. The present facilities for betting are more than sufficient. Therefore we recommend that they should not ■ be increased." The minority report, signed by the chairman (Mr. Levin) and three other members, says that betting, is inseparable from horse-racing. The only question, therefore, is the best way to regulate it. The report supports the totalisator as the fairest form of betting for the public, as a means of increasing the prizes and.providing for the more efficient upkeep of courses, purifying sport, tending to improve the breed of horses, limiting betting on the racecourse, preventing credit betting, discouraging the big bettor and professional punter, enabling owners to race without indulging in betting, and also to supply a legitimate form of taxation whereform a large revenue could be reaped bv the I State.