ATTITUDE TOWARDS GAMBLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 177, 28 July 1934, Page 8

ATTITUDE TOWARDS GAMBLING.

With reference to t]ie sentences recently imposed on two men in Auckland for the offence of keeping premises as common gaining houses, is it not time.'that the absurd, regulations which prevent men such as these from becoming licenced bookmakers were removed? It is a well-known fact that where there are bookmakers there the racing game will flourish, and, incidentally, the coffers of the country will benefit. In no other country in the world are bookmakers prohibited, and I think I can safely say that in no other country is the racing game at such a low ebb as in New Zealand., Are we, therefore, who are the j highest taxed individuals in the world, fitted to tell the rest of the world that bookmakers are a menace to racing, and as such should be prohibited? The Government prevents the licensing of bookmakers, and yet licenses other and worse forms of gambling. A relief worker may, on drawing his wages, walk down Queen Street and purchase so-called art union tickets from a dozen different sources. If the Government cannot see the vast sums of money to be made by a revision of the Gaming Act and the properly controlled licensing of bookmakers, it is time we returned to power those whose vision is clearer. COMMON" SENSE. , :