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MAY COME TO MUTUELS IN AUSTRALIA. New South Wales has a delicit of nearly .0,000. 090 to face, and although extra revenue is anticipated from added Income tax and stamp duties. Ministers generally, not being desirous of raising 1 more money by taxation than is absolutely necessary, are scanning the horizon for any class of treasure-ship which may relieve them of their pecuniary embarrassment. Obviously such a revenue-producing venture as the Tolalisator has had to come within their purview, and there Is just a possibility that the machine-may become legalised, though at the outset it must not be forgotten that there is in some quarters, a strangely hostile attitude towards the Totalisator. which is hard to reconcile with the democratic and progressive spirit of the party the present Ministry represents. That opposition will continue to the very death. There are some members irrevocably opposed to gambling in any form, and the suggestion that it should be under State supervision only tends to aggravate their antipathy. There are others who opMse the Totalisator simply because it is the Totalisator: while others are divided into two divisions whole-souled supporters, and those who feal that, while it is impossible to check the betting habit, it is better that it should be officially controlled than allowed to go on promiscuously. However, the Government wants money, not only 1o meet its commitments, but in order that it may extend its sphere of usefulness. In this connection it is only necessary to mention that it has in view a comprehensive scheme for alleviating all phases of distress, and such an extension means :i tremendous increase in the outlay. In fact, one member of the Ministry has gone so far as to declare that if the Government is to do anything at" all along the lines of extending its charitable operations, it will be necessary to legalise the Totalisator and appropriate the proceeds for that purpose alone. The other day Mr. Cann, who, during Mr. Hol-nians absence in New Zealand is Acting-Premier, in referring to the deficit and the means of obviating it. admitted that the advisability of introducing the Totalisator as a means of State revenue was beng seriously considered by the Cabinet, but he declined to snv what the feeling of the Cabinet was. Mr. Cann also admitted that the Introduction of the Totalisator would mean an addition to the revenue of approximately ,500,000 per annum. This Ie probably arrives at on a basis of a turnover of .?50,00O,O0O. which, after all, is perhaps not an exaggeration for the Stale, for keen judges of racing in Sydney estimate the nietropolitau turnover at over 5,000,009. However, the Acting-Premier would not commit himself to any direct answer as to whether the Government contemplated legalising the Totalisator; ail he would vouchsafe was that additional means of obtaining revenue were being Inquired into, and the amount stated was what might be expected if the machine came into being. On the face of It the passing over of ?1, 500.000 per annum the taking of which would harm nobody seems a step too quixotic to expect from the modern politician, individual or collective, and the supporters of the Totalisator in New South Wales are extremclv hopeful that eventually the machine will be tostaUed ia tW State 1 However, they also realise that there are still stupendous obstacles to be faced, and they feel confident that any move made will not be by the Cabi net The general opinion is that anv proposed Totalisator P.ill will not be a Government, but a private measure. Sydney Referee.
