Jhe Review of Reviews. 



August, 1912. 



Commission generally had made up its mind, and 

 that that mind was not against the Totalisator. Pos- 

 sibly the distinction between the manner in which 

 the two sides were dealt with was assumed. At any 

 rate, the verdict came as a pleasant shock to reform- 

 ers. It is to be presumed that now the proposed Bill 

 to legalise tlie Totalisator in New South Wales will 

 not materialise, and that the agitation that arises 

 from a few isolated points in other States in its 

 favour will cease. If the advocates of the Totali- 

 sator had choscm the Commission, they could hardly 

 have chosen one that seemed more in its favour, and 

 the finding is all the more remarkable. The conclu- 

 sion of the finding is : — 



We view with apprehension the growtli of betting, 

 believing, a.s we do, that it has an unsettling effect on 

 the community, and tjiat there is much in present- 

 day racing and betting methods that requires con- 

 sideration at the hands of the Government. We are 

 convinced that the introduction of a machine would 

 not cure, but would add to, the evils which now 

 exist. We find that the facilities for betting are at 

 present more than sufficient to meet all reasonable 

 requirements, and therefore re.spectfidly recommend 

 that they .should not be added to by the introduction 

 of a betting machine. 



It could hardly be expected that 



A Minority the niinoritv would not voice their 



Report. views, and they have done so in a 



report of their own. They say that 

 it is quite impossible to separate horse-racing and 

 betting, and so propose the Totalisator as a regu- 

 lator, seeing that, according to them, it " has been 

 the means of increasing prizes, providing for the 

 more efficient upkeep of courses, purif\ing sport, 

 and tending to improve the breed of horses." 

 (Which, l)eing translated, oif course, means in- 

 creased betting.) But its cause is weak when it 

 makes its most powerful plea the public financial 

 benefit one : — " While improving the sport, and pro- 

 tecting tl." public, the Totalisator would supply a 

 legitimate form of taxation, from which a large 

 revenue would be reaped by the State." There is 

 the cry, again, of the selfi.sh pessimist — " You can- 

 not do away with an evil, then let us share in its 

 wealth ! " — a principle which spells ruin to any 

 nation or individual acting upon it. That betting; 

 can be put down, and gambling restricted till 

 it ceases to he a national menace, is evident from 

 what has happened in other parts of the world. The 

 New South Wales Commission is to be congratu- 

 lated upon its finding. It will have far-reaching 

 effects on the national life of Australia. We are 

 coming on. 



The Melbourne "Age" has done 



Bee' the community a good turn by its 



Trust. publitation of a series of articles on 



" An Australian Beef Trust." The 

 " Age" avows that American Beef Trusts have al- 

 ready l>egun operations to endeavour to gain con- 

 trol of the sale of meat, lx>th local and export, 



having at one end ol their objective the fixing of 

 prices to the Australian consumer, and at another 

 end the Smithfield Markets. The newspaper goes 

 on to say that properties have already been acquired 

 in Queensland, with this end in view. Of course, 

 if a Beef Trust is formed, even upon the mystic 

 but substantial basis of a '■ gentleman's understand- 

 ing," there will be a gtwd-bye to legitimate com- 

 petition. Up will go prices to the consumer, and 

 down will go prices to the breeder. It would seem 

 as though the intention of the parties concerned is 

 to buy up or establi-sh businesses under different 

 names, and operate together, rather than scare the 

 community by openly announcing a trust. At any 

 rate, the "Age's" statements are serious enough 

 to warrant an enquiry into the proceedings of cer- 

 tain per,sons, and a serious looking into both Stale 

 and Federal laws, to see whether there exists suffi- 

 cient legislati\e power to cope with them. The 

 Federal Parliament might well institute such an 

 enquiry. The Queensland Government has made a 

 start, and has appointed a Commission ; but the 

 matter is so serious that it needs a Commonwealth 

 undertaking to do it properly. 



The Young Women's Christian As- 



The sociation of Melbourne has been 



Y.W.C.A. making a rousing effort to secure tlie 



sum of _;^26,ooo, to provide ad<'- 

 quate accommodation for tht- girls who are anxious 

 to find a hfime under their care. For many years 

 this admirable institution rem. lined .somewhat in the 

 background, but a little time ago a change was made 

 in the management, a forward movement w-as under- 

 taken, and a lady brought out from England to in- 

 fuse enthusiasm, and bring modern methods to liear. 

 It has all worked out very successfully. Miss Snel- 

 son, the lady in charge, is doing admirable work. 

 But, as success attends h<-i- efforts, greater demands 

 are made on the institution. And now it needs a 

 huge building, as a home for hundreds of girls, 

 who require lodging, and who want to have it under 

 the care of the Y,W,C.A. So, under the manage- 

 ment of Miss Snelson and Miss Barnes, who came 

 from America to help, the help of scores of 

 influential women was enlisted, the city mapped 

 out in sections, and an invasion made for funds. 

 The response was very fine, indeed, although the 

 ideal set by the promoters was not reached. But 

 in ten days the sum of _;^i 1,000 was gathered, and 

 the -Association will Ix' able to make a start. 



Something of the necessity for its 

 Tlie Great work may l>e understood wlien one 

 Need of It. realises that there are hundreds of 

 young women in Meloourne, em 

 [iloyed in offices, shops, and factories, at wage- 

 that do not permit of high rates being paid 

 for board and lodging, whose homes are not 

 in Melbourne, and to whom the ordinary 



