130

•account. With respect to both the latter classes, recognition must be given to the fact that all the essential information they require for their purposes is readily ascertainable by them from the bookmakers. Were broadcasting suppressed, this might induce those who only bet offcourse intermittently to bet more frequently with bookmakers from a sense of obligation for favours received and from contact with them. 360. In view of the nature of our recommendation with respect to the provision of off-course betting facilities it is of particular importance that those desirous of betting should be relieved as much as possible of any necessity to communicate with a bookmaker. This necessity, as has been pointed out, involves the free dissemination of information as to dividends paid on races already run. It also involves the dissemination of information as to the scratching of horses in races immediately about to be run. Information on the first topic is essential to an offcourse bettor so that he may know his financial position in respect of his betting transactions from time to time through the day and so determine the extent of his future transactions during the day ; whilst information as to the second is necessary to enable him to determine upon the nature of his future transactions. 361. In any event, the dividends paid and the names of the actual starters in immediately impending races is probably, as was contended by the witnesses for the two Conferences, more in the nature of mere news than otherwise. Whether that be so or not, we are of opinion that the dissemination of information as to dividends and starters, and particularly as to dividends, will tend materially to reduce the inducement to members of the betting public to communicate with the bookmakers, and so, by removing the elements of obligation and contact, will tend to minimize illegal off-course betting. 362. The broadcasting of racing information, and of the running descriptions of races in particular, provides interest and pleasure to a wide public which is not necessarily interested in betting, and it would be an unwarranted interference with their rights to deprive them of their interest and pleasure unless there is some substantial reason to believe that broadcasting is productive of such ill consequences that the public good is prejudicially affected. We cannot find that the present policy of the Broadcasting Service has been or is productive of any or any serious evil consequences. The names of the contestants in races, the names of the jockeys engaged to ride particular horses, the position of the horses at the starting-post, the weights to be carried by each horse, and other information of the kind is widely published in the newspapers before any race meeting starts. 363. The only items of additional information now given over the air are the names of the horses scratched and any changes in the weights carried and the order of favouritism of the contestants in previous races.