GREYHOUND RACING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 23, 23 December 1932, Page 7

GREYHOUND RACING.

TOTALISATORS ON COURSES. LONDON, Dec. 22. The National Greyhound Racipg Society, has obtained a legal opinion that totalisators on licensed greyhound racecourses may operate without profit to the promoters. The council decided, therefore, to continue in the interests of IT),000 employees.

EAST LONDON YOUTHS. CLUB OFFICER’S ALLEGATIONS. Some remarkable evidence as to the effect of dog racing in the East End of London was given by Mr F. A. Lockwood beloie the Royal Commission on Lotteries. Mr Lockwood is the superintendent of Hulton Horse Club, Mile End, and has constant opportunities of studying the 4000 members, the majority of whom have been young men between 17 and 18 years of age. The most obvious thing that struck even the casual visitor to the East End, he said, was the lust of the people for gambling, particularly among the young people. “Gambling,” said Mr Lockwood, "has seriously interfered with the young people’s desire to go in for wholesome indoor and outdoor sports, and it is very difficult and in some cases impossible to get anywhere near the same enthusiasm for them as a year or two ago. , "The chief form of gambling is that of betting on the dogs, and that has in its train brought on a fever to gamble on other things, such „as cards, and card-playing in the streets is now a very frequent occurrence and gives the police a lot of trouble.

ONE SUBJECT OF CONVERSATION. "The preference shown for dog racing has been attained through the ease in which people can reach the various dog tracks ; in a number of cases free transport is given to and from the tracks; and the very easy method of betting and the very small amounts that are accepted by some bookmakers. "The number of unemployed youths who habitually attend dog meetings is disquieting, and one feels that money spent at the dogs by these people should be utilised for the necessaries of life. The desire to gamble has completely mastered large numbers of people in this part of London, and there are abundant signs that with the increase of easy facilities to bet the gambling habit will increase out of all its present proportions.” Replying to the chairman, Mr Lockwood said the betting on the dogs was additional to the betting that previously existed. There were people betting in tho East End now who he would never have thought two or three years ago would bet. “These lads are always talking about the dogs. Their one subject of conversation is dogs. When tho fellow comes along at night selling the dog racing results every door in the street opens, and somebody in practically every house buys them. My boys rush out of the club to buy the results.”