RACING IN AUCKLAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3409, 28 December 1911, Page 5

RACING IN AUCKLAND.

VIEWS OF NEW SOUTH WALES COMMISSION. A, V

> • J. \ \ TOTE V. BOOKMAKER. AUCKLAND AND SYDNEY CROWDS COMPARED. VSPECIAIi TO TIMES.} AUCKLAND, Dec. 27. -Particularly interested visitors to yesterday’s races at Ellerslie were the members of the New South Wales Totalisator Commission. The Commission consists of five members of the Now South Wales State Parliament, and is to visit* the various centres in New Zealand, gathering evidence relative to the totalisator, in vieAV of the agitation in favor of the establishment of the machine in the State which they represent. Mr R. H. Lcvien, M.L.A., who is the father of the New South Wales Par_ liament, having for 32 years represented Tam worth, had some interesting .observations to make this morning, when seen by a "Star” reporter. "The Commission,” said Mr Levien, “was hud in its appreciation of the all-round excellence of the arrangements of yesterday for such a large''crowd. They thought it remarkable that everything should have passed off with such absolute smoothness. The huge assemblage of over 30,000 people had been a reflation to them in the matter of order, good nature and behavior. There was never any indication of excitement, no pushing and no struggling. Particularly • noticeable was the absence of that screeching which betokened the operations of the bookmaker. Speaking for himself Mr Levien felt justified in saying that there was not that inducement to bet where the ring Avas not inviting the public to come forward and accept attractive odds. It seemed to him that the presence of the tote was in this Avay preferable to the bookies, and - tended to .make the racing more attractive. He had heard a fair number of people regretting that the layers of odds Avere no longer permitted to operate, but in the course of inquiries the greater number appeared to prefer machine betting. It was silent, and so conducted that there was no cause at all for complaint. One thing Avhich particularly struck the visitor from tbe mother State was the temperament of the crowd at yesterday’s Cup meeting. "It was a strange thing to find 30,000 people so intently interested in such splendid racing, and yet to have no actual excitement,” said Mr Levien. "In mat respect the crowd differed vastly to an Australian' racecourse’ assemblage. Yesterday’s gathering seemed deeply critically interested, but so utterly placid. Why, a crowd of that size in Sydney or Melbourne, would get frightfully excited over such magnificent facing as' Ave had all day at Ellerslie.” . Another thing which lias struck Mr Levien is the' fact that the newspapers do not publish the odds. As long as the odds are not quoted before the race, the New South Wales Parliamentarian sees no reason at all why they should not be published afterwards, but rather thinks it desirable that the public should be informed of the state of the betting on each event. While impr°ssed with the manner in which the 30,000 who soav the Cup ran were conveyed to and from the grounds, Mr Levien admitted Ms surprise upon finding ll: ?t the Railway Department still had to fall back upon the use of covered-in goods trucks for the conveyance of ihe public to the racecourse. Many years ago New South Wales had had to have recourse to similar devices for coping with the holiday traffic, because of 1 he shortage of rolling stock, but this has since been remedied, the general a<s- -- and prosperity of the State having enabled the Railway Department to bring its rolling stock and equipment up to the actual requirements of the public. No doubt with the evidence of growing and continued prosperity here in Auckland the provision of proper railway accommodation would be accomplished. Questioned regarding the activities of the Commission, Mr. Levien said that they were now going into the business which had brought them to New Zealand, and had already, taken a certain amount of evidence. A number of prominent people had promised to come forward and give them the fullest particulars possible, and it has intended to ask one or two representatiA r es of leading churches to give tlieir evidence. The Commission’s work was to inquire (1) whether the tote really increased gambling; (2) whether it provided a fairer means of betting for the public; (3) whether it is best that it should be under state control, and, (4) whether the means derived from.. ; t <if the machine be established) should be devoted purely to racing. "The -difficulty in New South A ales,” lie added, "was* that in New South Wales there were a number of proprietary clubs,, and the extension of the totalisator to such courses was in itself a problem. However, that'was a matter for legislation.” The Commission Avill remain in this city until next Aveek.