SERMON AGAINST GAMBLING.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10733, 13 August 1900, Page 6

SERMON AGAINST GAMBLING.

VIEWS OF I'HE KIEV. W. BAUMBER

The Rev. W. Batvuber. preaching last night at Durham street Weslevan Church on "Gamtoling," ssiid that he btili«ved that at least tbere were five to t£n young men in New Zealand "to-day who gambled to everyone that drank to txocss. This was one of those questions in connection with which a man often knew a great deal more than he could prove, wh'xt with gambling hells, Sunday drinking, etc. Our popukition today was upwaid** of 800,000. Last year the number or totalisator licenses granted to racing riiibs was 154, the days covered being 278. That meant that en an average there was a race meeting being held somewhere in New five days out of tvery seven. While the totalisator "may have spoilt the business of bookmakers, it had largely increased the number of gamblers, and financially strengthened tli-e jockey clubs. _ It bad "also imparted an air of respectability by reason of its State s.mction. He hnd no hesitation in saying that racing was almost entirely kept up tor the purpose , v: gambling, 'and if gambling were made i.kga/, race mc: tin -s would cv.i = c to exbe. Anathtr great, evil was th: existence of what were ca Id -toti shops," in which you could get totalisator odds on any horse, without going near a racecourse. places were iLegal. although it was very difficult f>v the law t> bj tnfc-rtcd and convictions obtained. Thai ih :- «rs wliiu a:e c:il ed tie "walking tot.es." I'.su.-.'lly tailed -spiel.ts," to bi found c o frtqu.ntlv" ii! s;:mi of tio streets oi Chri>tchu::-il. 'ih.n there weie t:.J "consultations/ , i'.leirul in our co'mv, but no one ki;t«- th.' amount of mcn:y t.,:,: Mas beiiu? & :ut ■U'Jta N\w Zealand to tne ether colony -in which the were tying" hud.' Tlii-n there weie the gumo ing d*n<, existing :u all our lar.-s cities. JSow and a-ain the pulice wtre successful m some w y, ° but- it -W-..S c v-ry difficult nutkr for tlxin. however anxious t.;:*y might 4>: to convict. This guirbliug spirit was everywhere; society wus honeYC'inte-i witu :t. r>ovs play pitcli a.d toss, trirls and young men club to.'ethtr to put their money on th? tctanscH-r. It was no wonder if reckless trade was ammon. find gamblifig c-ntcred so much jnto «r----dinarv business. What was the result of it all "Gambling provided no genu_r.e recreation for either mind or br.dy. It made all ordinary occupation slow and intolerab.e, while it excitt'd and fatigued the brain more than ordinary business. It tended to a neglect oi all business, and led to a. belnf in good inc.!:, which led to extravagance, recklessness and dishonesty. Ccatinued gambling destroyed the sympathies, cultivated sellisiimss. ulidermintd morals, and mined tha character. In one district in which he lived, the day school was actually closed on race days, and the children were let loose in order that they mk'ht be expescd to all the perils of a racecourse. He deplored the presence of gambling in concretion with so many of our athletic sports. He also deplored the fact that the Churches were not themselves clean, with their raffles and lotteries in their bazaars. Personally he would make the totalisator illegal, and would take from the Colonial Secretary the power he now possessed to give permits. He would also proliibit the publication oi betting intelligence in our newspapers.