The following appeared in the Star of Tuesday :- "
We regret to see that the Government have decided that they will not pass the legislation necessary to put a stop to the publication of racing tips and betting odds. It would be a step towards social reform to which a very large number of people in this country attach a great deal of importance. And, at the present time, in so far as it would discourage the worst side of racing—the waste of man-power, the waste of money and the waste of petrol—the prohibition of the publication of betting news would be a war measure of consider-ble importance. It is true that newspapers might voluntarily relinquish the practice of printing the odds, and the profits indirectly derived from it, but, apart from the impossibility of obtaining the necessary agreement amongst newspapers, if all existing papers refrained from such publication, then new publications would be started to meet the demand. We cannot believe that the Government would meet with any difficulty in passing a short simple measure which would effectually prevent the publication of betting odds and racing tips. For our part, such legislation would be welcome, and we have no doubt that the greater number of our contemporaries would also support such a measure. ?'one of the arguments advanced for the continuation of racing during the war can be adduced in support of the publication of tips and betting odds. The passage of a Government Bill would be easy ; without it, to stop the practice-is impossible."
Previous page
