view raw text
WIDELY DIFFERING LINES OF ACTION On the 2Sth Inst the Betting Inducements PII comes up for second reading in the House of Lord and 1 mention It only to show by contrast how tho most increasingly prosperous country in the wovii the Argentine Republic nourishes on principles dia ¬ metrically opposed to the suggestion of Ixrd New ton and his friends So far removed is the Argen ¬ tine scheme of life from forbidding Inducements 10 I et that they give every encouragement to do so whether by the totnlisators or the state lotteries Nolwdy seems a penny the worse for this and any amount of trouble over local rates etc Is prevented At their race meetings no sooner is OIK race over than the numbers ari up for the next and in a fev mliiules the starters are out on the course iust foi the people to see them and make up their mini what to back They are in effect asked to mak their game and they certainly do so as the vast amounts put through the otallsator prove In some enclosures there are liveried men who will rolicv you of all trouble by putting your money on for you and collecting your winnings when you happen to buck a winner So the game of backing yohr fancy is made easy and attractive for you all round and everyone seems happy and contented Aiiti gaiuhling faddists are unheard of Strangely enough the only serious opposition to racing in the Argen ¬ tine is promoted by people who think that such a pastime should not be permitted on working duys if the week There is practical common sense In this view no doubt but what would be said In ihU country if a movement were set on foot to contiiio racing days to Sundays and bank holidays Such movement there is however at the present time in the Argentine the idea of it being bat the Tliurs day race meetings divert people from useful work and are consequently damaging to he State Tlis movement has gained some force in spite of the fact that the whole of the percentages from the totalisator takings on the Thursdays is devoted to the public bcnelit and In consequence largely re lieves rates and taxes Observe there is not th slightest objection to racing and betting as such but it is elaimeil that Sundays and holidays an the proper days for it and that on working days men should work and not be drawn away to go racing The fear tlmt the Thursday fixtures will be pr liibiled has during the last year or so made nniny of the Argentine breeders hesitate about buying further blrodstock from England but the bcnelit t the community which is derived from the Tlmri day Moles must surely weigh very sulKtantlaly in favor of the continuance of racing on those duys The Special Commissioner in London Sportsmim
