ADVOCATING THE BOOKMAKER.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 25, 3 September 1920, Page 7

ADVOCATING THE BOOKMAKER.

An Australian writer, who has always ■ favoured the bookmaker, in reviewing the ' position in New Zealand as he sees it from a distance, says: — "Our New Zealand friends are very much concerned over the , aggressive bookmaker. As ihe Germans did years before them, they passed some veTy drastic laws relating to betting — drastic enough, seemingly, to wipe odds merchants right oS the map. But, instead of packing up their books and worldly goods and seeking more generous climes, they stayed right there, and instead of decreasing they increased a thousandfold, as they did in Germany, and practically defied the authorities. On the advice of the police all over Germany, the authorities recalled the bookmakers, and under heavy tax allowed them to compete against the totalisator. The New Zealanders followed suit as far as recalling was concerned ; but, according to one who ought to know, they registered all the ruffians they could lay hands on purposely to disgust the public. Consequently, the life of the bookie on the New Zealand courses was very short-lived. They returned to the old order, and in time it became possible to win large amounts on any race at starting or stated price. Though it is a misdemeanour to publish totalisator odds, as the very wise New Zealand Parliament reckons the publication of tote dividends increases starting-price betting, there is comparatively more s.p. done there than here. Despite the law, I have learned from a very big New Zealand bookmaker, there is ten times more of it now in New Zealand than there was ten years ago, and also in every big town there are more big firms of bookmakers doing tremendous business at both double and straight out. The reason for this is that a majority of people who bet prefer a stated price to the off-chance of the totalisator. They want the bookmakers, and support them; but a very small circle of big racing men, who do not bet, but like good prizes to race for, are against bookmaking. They, however, have no objection to the public coming to their courses in droves to get on to their totalisators, and on enriching the race clubs that way. It would be better if they registered the best bookmakers and charged heavy fees for betting."