PERIL OF GAMBLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 182, 4 August 1931, Page 8

PERIL OF GAMBLING.

RAISING HOSPITAL FINANCE. MINISTER OF HEALTH'S VIEWS INDUSTRY AND THRIFT UPHELD. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) " PALMERSTON NORTH, this day. Yesterday in an address at the Palmerston North Rotary Club luncheon the Minister.of-Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, called attention .to the grave peril of substituting gambling methods for honest toil. The get-rich-quick idea, he said, was an. obsession of fools. Industry and thrift were the basic principles of natural law and society could not exist in opposition to them. The Minister deprecated the suggestion of- adopting gambling devices as a substitute for the constitutional and organised expression of social duty to the sick in hospital and allied services. To destroy the present basis of assured hospital finance for essential services by introducing a policy that would give the sick only a gambler's chance would be a social tragedy. With wide reference to Empire events embracing New Zealand, the Minister revealed how industry and thrift were being attacked even in high places. The citadel of State security had fallen in othjer British Dominions, and was being attacked in this. When there was no longer reward or security for industry and thrift .the end of civilisation could not be far away.

A strong appeal was made for the recognition of the fact that on the energy and character of its' people the nation must ever rely for its economic and moral salvation.