TOTALISATOR v. BOOKMAKER.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1919, Page 5

TOTALISATOR v. BOOKMAKER.

GAMBLING DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT. PLEA FOR DOUBLE MACHINE. By Wire—Own Correspondent. Wellington, Last Night.

The totalisator was under discussion in the House to-night. Mr Hunter (Waipawa) urged the legalisation of the double machine. He thought that if Government would legalise rtie double machine it would remove from the turf one of the greatest evils working against the welfare of the sport at the present time.

Mr M. Forbes supported the suggestion, and asked for the elimination of the bookmaker. Parliament could not stop gambling, but at present there were hosts of people living on the business of bookmaking. Racing clubs should be allowed to cover the ground now covered by the bookmaker. Mr Pearce, (Patea) also urged .the Minister for Internal Affairs to legalise the double machine. He had that day been approached by a racing man in the streets of Wellington who had offered to show him half a dozen bookmakers operating through the telegraph office. It was in double betting that the bookmaker made his biggest profits. If there were a double "tote" the bookmakers would have to go out of business. The bookmaker made huge profits on doubles.

Sir Joseph Ward: How do you know? 'Mr Pearce: You can get double cards anywhere in the streets of Wellington. I am not foolish enough to back doubles myself; they are too hard to pick. ' He was not in favor of trying to stop gambling by legislation, but it was desirable that bookmaking ' should be stopped, because it would stop betting on credit. One point in favor of the machine was that in order to bet a person must have the cash, but bookmakers would accept bets on credit, and young men were encoujaged to bet who could not afford it, and who often pot into trouble in their offices as the result.

The Minister (Major Hine) said that the habit of boys betting was deplorable, but he did not think that the evil was confined to boys. Anything he could do to fight the bookmaker would be done., but his duty was to administer the law. The double "tote" and the telegraphing of bets to the course were at present prohibited by. law, and it was no part of his duty to alter this arrangement or to suggest that it be altered. It was quite evident to him that if such things a3 the member for Patea had mentioned were gomgoofn f - the Justice Department should take a hand in the matter.

Mr Isitt (Christchurch North) said it was refreshing to hear such an outburst of moral enthusiasm from the member for Patea. The schemes were all aimed at the bookmaker, but every member knew that since the introduction of the totalisator the evil of gambling had increased a hundred per cent If the House were roallv desirous of arresting "rambling and the operations of the bookmaker, why did they not cease playing with the thins; and prohibit, the newspapers from publishing racing news and betting odds, and prohibit the post office from transmitting racing wire 3? "A lovely thine is the racecourse," he said. "A nest of blackguards." The House passed on to other matters.