THE EVIL OF GAMBLING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7242, 30 July 1907, Page 3

THE EVIL OF GAMBLING.

A DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER

WELLINGTON, July 30. A Deputation of citizens, clergymen, members of Parliament, and others interested in the gambling question, waited on the Premier to-day, with a request for the imposition of further legislative restrictions on what was represented to be a growing and great evil. All the principal cities were represented on the deputation.

Tho Premier, in reply, said that las. year's Bill tried to give effect to what he thought was a tremendous advance, and included several very important reforms. It did away with street betting, and made betting by minors almost impossible and limited betting to racecourses. If they got legislation of that sort) on the Statute Book, it would be a tremendous advance, and was as much as they expected to get there. As to the abolition of the totalisator, the deputation must recognise that it was not possible to get such a proposal through Parliament; and in any case, until it was possible, it was not desirable. He was anxious tio do all in his power to meet the wishes of the deputation, but he recognised that there was a large sec-, tion of the community that looked upon race meetings as part and parcel of the system which they supported and believed in. Personally, ho did not see any harm in race meetings if carried out properly. But he thought that the system of double betting should be stopped, and provision to do so would be included in the Bill already drafted. gs_<__32_sSS_!_^_XH!^_**_W^