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. I i AGAINST THE DOUBLE TOTALISATOR. In New Zealand many people would like to soil the double totalisator reinstated, and during the discussion of Mr. George Hunters Gaming Act Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council, the Hon. S. T. George, of Auckland, moved a new clause repealing clause 31 of the principal act. iu order that a double totalisator miglit.be used. Ills object was to abolish the bookmaker, who, contrao to the law, still nourished in the Dominiou principally through the medium of the "little double." Strong arguments were used lwth for and against the "double machine." its opponents objecting to it on the score that it would increase the facilities Tor gambling, while those in its favor contended it would administer a knockout blow to bookmakers, who now did business from the time of the ap Iiearaiice of the entries, and thereby got a lot of money out of non-starters. Among those who supported the proposed clause was the Hon. .1. I. Or-inond, who regarded it as au effective measure against the monopoly of double-betting at present enjoyed by bookmakers. The voting Was close, but the clause favoring the double totalisator was Ve jected. 12 to 8. "Petronel." in the Christcliurch Weekly Press, in commenting on the proposal to give racegoers th" double totalisator. says the idea that it would lead to an increase In "gambling" is erroneous, ami then continues: "When the double totalisator was in use a few years ago some of the New Zealand racing eluns did not establish the double machine on tlipir courses, because they considered its use decreased the totalisator receipts. There is little doubt that the double machine cauiht the small Investors who were content to have one investment on it In preference to several speculations on the single machine. Consequently there was always the chance of a falliug off in the receipts. As a matter of fact, then, the double niachlne does not increase gambling nor is its use at all likely to increase the" volume of race course betting. If when the Gaming Act was amended in 1909-1910 there had been no cutting out of the double machine, the bookmaker trouhlo would have practically been at an end in thp course of twelve months.. The betting public will not. apparently, do without their double hotting, and as that is woll known, surejy the best thing to do would be to let them back their fancies on the day of the running of the races In which they are interested. Then the betting public would have desirable knowledge about the starters for the two races comprising the double. "The danger in double betting prior to the day is that the layer generally has considerably more than a shade of odds in his favor. The prices about combinations that are pretty well certain to start are nearly always cramped, aud not infrequently would-be backers have considerable difficulty in backing their favorite combination at a reasonable price. The majority of members of the Legislative Council, who voted against Mr. ThorncvUeorges proposal do not, I suppose, understand a great deal about the racing game, and therefore we must excuse them for-their -apparent playing to tin bookmaker. All the same, these gentlemen ought to knbw that, the re-establisliment. ,of the double to tallsator. would pot mean,an",.iricrease of -gambling, and. thatr the giving of fifteen- new permits to racing cljibs, eight. to ti-ptting .clubs,.aud-.eight to hunt clubs Is- intich more . likely to do so." Sydney .Referee.
