THE GAMBLING EVIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 168, 18 July 1910, Page 5

THE GAMBLING EVIL.

DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. GOVERNMENT INTENTIONS. POSSIBILITY OF REFERENDUM (By Telegraph.—Painamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. A large deputation waited on the Premier regarding the desired amendments to the gaming laws. The attendance was so large that the deputation had to be received out of doors in the Parliamentary grounds. The deputation was introduced by Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., and included delegates from outside centres, clergy, members of Parliament, and ladies. Mr J. G. W. Aiken said he had a large number of telegrams and letters from every part of the Dominion, and copies of resolutions from Chambers of Commerce and Trades and Labour Councils, ■urging the abolition of the tote and bookmakers. The Rev. North said the Premier had the approval of citizens in all parts of the country regarding his proposals to amend the gaming laws. This was the, most over-raced country on the face of the planet, and it was time the' nation had a chance of expressing itself on the national cash betting machine. I He hoped the people at the next General' election would be given the referendum, and a chance of expressing their opinion j hy a 'bare majority in regard to the' tote, and that immediate legislative action be taken to abolish the bookmaker. Bishop Wallis, Professor Kirk, MessTs. J. G. Freeth, and J. Hutchison also addressed the Premier on the subject. i Sir Joseph Ward said he realised the representative nature of the deputation. Anyone watching the course of events I had to admit that it was time Parliament stepped in to control the gambling evil He was not against horse racing | but he was against the system by which damage and ruination was beino- wrought to the youth of the country. 0 He had been informed of scores of cases of dire' trouble arising from the gambling mania He was impressed with the necessity for putting legislation on the Statute Book to make gambling, particularly to youncr people, more difficult in this country! He had, therefore, put three questions to Parliament. An impression seemed to have got abroad that these questions were going to be side-tracked- but that was wrong. Every issue would be put [separately and distinctively. He was considering with his Colleagues the necessity, for making the matter one for a referendum to the country, if the House found a difficulty in coming to a conclusion on the three issues put by him. Parliament was also being asked to reduce the number of days of raeino- in New Zealand by half. The legalising of bookmakers had been approved by Parliament in 1906, becajise it was thought that it would confine betting to the racecourses, and so reduce the amount of gambling. That expectation had not been realised. The Government was sincere in its desire to get the voice of Parliament on the three issues put to the House, and would do its best to have legislation to this effect put on the Statute Book this session. (Applause.) Personally, he was going to give his vote for all three issues, and he believed the legislation ultimately to be brought down by the Government, after ascertaining the feeling of the House, would afford general satisfaction. (Applause.)

In the Alexandra-street Primitive j Methodist Church the Rev. J. Cocker : last night preached an interesting sermon on gambling and its influence upon j character, in which he referred to the selfishness, dishonesty, lowness of moral tone caused by the evil. Both the totalisator and -the bookmaker were condemned. If it were wrong to legalise the bookmaker, it was, he said, equally wrong to legalise the machine. At the close of the sermon the following resolution was passed:—"That this congregation, believing that gambling is opposed to the financial, moral and religious interests of the community, thei Government be asked to abolish the' totalisator, make it illegal to license bookmakers, and in every reasonable I way to suppress the gambling evil." ' Archdeacon Calder, preaching at All , Saints' Church, Ponsonby, yesterday, de- i scribed gambling as a lust and anti-social; ■■ as covetousncss and idolatry. He gave pertinent illustrations of illicit methods adopted to gain wealth without exertion, and also of malpractices in connection with horse-racing. The mischief, in his opinion, however, was not the bookmaker, but it was much more widespread. It started with an easy religion where salvation was got without any commandments, proceeded to the bargain counter, and then went on to unlawful speculation.