THE GAMING ACT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9010, 20 December 1907, Page 5

THE GAMING ACT.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—The effect of the much-dis-cussed "Gaming and Lotteries Act" was forcibly brought before the sporting section of th.3 Masterton public at the Showground yesterday, on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Trotting Club. It is a wellknown fact that in order to procure sufficient money to provide stakes the various clubs rely practically on the amount received as revennue from the totalisator. The new Act provides that at meetings where a permit is granted for the use of the machine, bookmakers shall be licens3d. Two layers of the odds paid license fees yesterday, and in competition with the totalisator affected a much greater volume of business. The total amount invested on the machine on seven events was a little over £so'), as against a turnover of nearly £I,BOO last year, and whereas ' about £2O may have been received as fees, the decrease of totalisator revenue will mean a loss to the club of well over £IOO. Now, those who have seen recent balance-sheets of the Trotting Club will admit that the money received from other sources

will not make up for a loss of this kind, and the question might, therefore, be pertinently asked, can the club continue under this state of affairs. I notice, according to Hansard, that the member for Masterton, was in favour of the passing of the Gaming Act. Surely Mr Hogg could not have foreseen that the Act would probably mean the discont ; nuaiice of trotting and race meetings in Wairarapa, otherwise he would have sought information from those who admittedly have studied the matter more than he has probably cared to do. What has happened to the Trotting Club may occur at the Masterton Racing Club's, meeting next year, and then the public will be brought face to face with the face that Sir Joseph Ward's pet Bill is aimed at depriving country settlers of enjoying a form of sport they have been used to for many years, and a very strong protest against such interfer ence with the rights of the people should be made to Parliament. —I am, etc., FAIR PLAY.