BETTING IN MELBOURNE

Temuka Leader, Issue 809, 3 January 1882, Page 3

BETTING IN MELBOURNE

The Melbourne correspondent of the Otago Witness says . —" The statement seems hardly credible, but it is made by persons not usually given to exaggera-

tion, that the public lost L 250,000 over the late Melbourne Cup meeting. There can be no doubt that they were relieved of enormous sums, for the leading bookmakers frankly admit that they count their gains by thousands, in several instances by tens of thousands. This gigantic national gambling has been felt in business circles, and hence the cry that the Legislature should interfere to moderate—it can scarcely hope to suppress—the betting mania, This has been attempted in two forms, one measure aiming at the suppression of racing sweeps—the large transactions of Messrs Miller and Co., as well as the smaller ones on the course— find the other at the introduction, or rather the recognition of the totaMsator. I regret to say that the latter scheme has been negatived, and the former is, so Lraconic in its severity, that even if sanctioned it would defeat itself. There is no doubt that the gambling spirit is spreading with fearful rapidity amongst our youth. When young men in church will wager as to which of the collectors will make the round of the pews most quickly it is pretty evident that they are strongly imbued with the prevailing spirit. It would be wise to try and check the evil before it outgrows control.