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TOTALIZATOR MAY BE ADOPTED. There has been no move in parliament this session towards the legalization of the totalizator, but it is a rather general idea that one will eventually be made by the government, owing to the revenue from such a source being highly desirable for the assistance of the large number of this states soldiers who will return from the war with permanent injuries, ns well as the widows and orphans of the men who are killed. Nor could money derived by the govcrn- ment from racing be turned to better account, and it is a tax the general public will not feel. In the legislative assembly last week Mr. MeDon-old asked whether the premier v.as aware that there had been a sharp rise on the stock exchange in the shares of a totalizator machine company, and lie wished to know whether this was due to a rumor that the government intended to introduce the totalizator in order to provide money to carry out its plans with regard to returned soldiers. Mr. McDon-old asked the premier to make a statement in order to clear members of the imputation of manipulating shares. The premiers reply was to the effect that he had no time to follow the fluctuations of the stock exchange; but on Mr. McDonold further querying whether there was any truth in the rumor as to the intention of the government to introduce the totalizator, Mr. Ilolmau did not reply. The hitters silence on tin; point in question was regarded as rather omnious by those people who stand to lose so much by the installation of the totalizator on the race course of this state. At the same time, those stock exchange buyers are merely jumping at conclusions in supposing that there is any likelihood of the government favoring one machine company mora than the others. It is, however, apparently accepted that if the totalizator is legalized it is sure to be rim by the state on the various courses. But is it absolutely necessary this should be so? Would it not be easier for the govemment to announce that it required a certain percentage of the turnover, and permit each club to conduct its own totalizator business. This would relieve the state of nearly all trouble in the matter, and there could still be sufficient government supervision to assure everything being conducted in proper fashion. Bona fide clubs would naturally devote all profits, after payment of the government percentage, to increased stakes and improvements, and so as to assure fair play to owners in the matter of stakes the act could stipulate a maximum dividend on shares in the case of proprietary clubs. I am aware that people opposed to proprietary racing are hopeful that one effect of the totalizator would be to entirely wipe out such clubs, but it is difficult to see how that is to come about. In Sydney they provide much the greater portion of the sport, and, with no certainty of bona fide clubs taking their place, owners and trainers, as a whole, would be sorry to see them put out of business. However, such a happening is quite unlikely, even if the totalizator does come. The government will want a large revenue from the machine, and that cannot result if there is such a marked reduction in the number of metropolitan fixtures as would be the outcome of interference with proprietary clubs. Pilot in Sydney Referee.
