MORE OR LESS GAMBLING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 119, 1 March 1949, Page 2

MORE OR LESS GAMBLING

Issues Involved in Poll PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OPPOSITION (P.A.) DUNEDIN, February 28. The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand desired the eradication of illegal gambling, and believed that bookmaking could be checked now, said the convener of the church’s Public Questions Committee (the Rev. J. S. Somerville) in a statement on the gambling referendum to-day. “There is much in the public mind over the issues involved in the referendum,” Mr Somerville said. “The propaganda of the Racing and Trotting Conferences has led people to believe that the issue is simply between legal off-course betting and illegal off-course betting. “The issue is rather between more or less gambling—between upholding the law and confining betting to the racecourses on the one hand, and a widespread increase in betting all over the country on the other. Wo want all gambling reduced to a reasonable minimum. We particularly want illegal gambling eradicated. “We.are on the side of law and order; we consider that people who disregard the law now are little likely to regard or respect it when a new law is made to suit them.

“If, however, the law is really at stake, good faith could be shown by a clean-up of bookmaking now. There is no unholy alliance between the churches and the bookmakers. If the proposal for legal off-course' betting is defeated, we believe that the Government will have a mandate to eradicate the bookmaker.”

FACILITIES FOR BETTING SUPPORT BY JOCKEYS’ ASSSOCIATION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, February 28. “Legalised and properly controlled off-course betting, such as that recommended by the Royal Commission on Gaming, would remove the incentive that now exists for improper interference with the running of races,” said Mr W. J. Broughton, president of the Jockeys’ Association, and one of the Dominion’s leading riders, in a statement to-day. “Our association is opposed to bookmakers, whether licensed or otherwise, because, we have found their existence often results in big betting, and in the •interests of big bettors, jockeyg are sometimes asked to do things that are repugnant «to them,” said Mr Broughton. “I do not say it happens often, but the temptation is always there when big money is at stake, .and it is wrong if the man in the street who wagers his modest few shillings does not a fair run for his money. Aft-w all, it is the man in the street'who is the biggest supporter of racing. “The adoption of a system of offcourse betting, as recommended by the Gaming Commission, would, I ‘in satisfied, .place racing throughout New Zealand on a better basis. “I read the commission’s report with the closest interest, and in my opinion the arguments advanced in support of the system were absolutely unanswerable. The system would make legal and above-board off-course betting that is now forced underground, and it would remove the evils at present associated with such betting. “My view is that thousands of New Zealanders, -men and women who enjoy an honest flutter, should be permitted to enjoy it openly. Organising the scheme will be a big job for the Racing and Trotting Conferences, but they have the inducement and the means to carry it out. The jockeys will hack them all the way.”