Page:1930 QLD Royal Commission into Racing Report.djvu/60

60 At all courses, registered and unregistered, betting is conducted by means of the totalisator and licensed bookmakers.

Both these agencies are recognised by existing statutes, under which the State derives revenue as a result of their operations.

No suggestion was put forward for any alteration in this dual system of betting.

The President of the Queensland Council of Churches, Mr. A. E. Bickmore, was deputed by that body to urge the total abolition of gambling at race meetings, and, failing such abolition, a reduction in the number of such meetings with a view to decreasing the gambling evil as far as practicable.

This evidence was supported to the extent of urging a curtailment of racing, and consequently of gambling, by the representative of the National Council of Women.

The views of these bodies rest mainly on ethical but to some extent also on economic grounds.

This question of the suppression or reduction of gambling per se was not stressed by any other witness.

Under these circumstances, the Commission does not think fit to recommend any alteration in the present system under which the deeply implanted instinct for gambling is sought to be kept within controllable limits by restricting its exercise, in connection with horse racing, to the racecourse itself.

It appears that in recent years there has been an increase in the number of illegal betting houses, commonly known as "betting shops."

The suggestion was made that this increase is largely due to broadcasting by wireless during meetings. The present practice is to broadcast, not only the results of the meetings, but such progress particulars as facilitate the making, in places remote from the racecourse, of wagers on the events of the day.

The Commission considers that in the interests of the racing community, no less than of the general public, it is essential that the present penalties provided against illicit betting should be strictly enforced.

It also considers that the suggestion that such betting is facilitated by the present system of broadcasting is well founded, and that provision should be made to prohibit the broadcasting from racecourses of racing information until after the close of the last race at any meeting.

If the views of the Commission as to the unsuitability of the Coorparoo Racecourse for galloping races are adopted by legislation prohibiting such racing on that course, it will be necessary that provision be made for the payment of compensation (if any) to Brisbane Amusements, Limited, the owner of the course, in respect of any diminution in the value of its property resulting from such prohibition.