A reference note prepared by Brian Murray, Chief Executive NZ TAB 1986-1994.

 

The seminal documents concerning the birth of the NZ TAB are the report of the Royal Commission on Racing and Gaming in 1948 and the “Approved Scheme” under the Gaming Amendment Act 1949.

 

The former, referred to as the Finlay Report after its chair, George Finlay, a Supreme Court judge, was constituted in 1946 and reported in 1948 (not 1949 as indicated in the index to the reference here below). Its recommendation that off course betting be legalised was endorsed by a national referendum in early 1949 leading to the Gaming Act being amended later that year authorising the Racing and Trotting Conferences to conduct such betting under terms approved by the Government. I’ve not seen a copy of the Approved Scheme but have seen references to it in old Board minutes and it clearly contained conditions relating to the siting of outlets (not close to churches or schools), opening hours and types of betting permitted.

 

A copy of the Finlay Report is held in the Alexander Turnbull Library, NZ Pacific Collection, with a “Call number” P 798.48 NZ ROY 1948. The Alexander Turnbull Library is a constituent part of the National Library of NZ and in normal circumstances a copy of the report could be obtained through the library inter-loan system, although I do not know the full conditions that would apply. At the moment (July 2010), however, the National Library is undergoing a major restructuring and this publication is in storage until 2012.

 

Neither the TAB nor the National Library appear to have a copy of the Approved Scheme. The racing and trotting bodies might hold a copy, but I doubt that it would be readily retrievable. Our Parliamentary Library probably has a copy somewhere but its publications are not available for loan; anyone interested would have to go on site.

 

The NZ Racing Board (which now incorporates the TAB) notes David Grant’s history “Two over Three on Good Time Sugar” which was published in 2000 to mark the TAB’s 50th birthday. It covers the early days of the organisation reasonably well and is probably the most useful reference document for anyone interested in its formation.

 

Grant, David (2000), Two over Three on Goodtime Sugar – The New Zealand

TAB turns 50, Victoria University Press, Wellington, NZ.