THE GAMBLING EVIL.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12498, 8 May 1906, Page 8

THE GAMBLING EVIL.

i AN INDICTMENT FROM THE Pri.PIT.

(si'ECtAL TO '• TUB rRI>S.") WELLINGTON, May 7. The IU-r. Mr Nor:h. in the camse of, jn sermon yesterday, after out-lining 'he > i universal condemnation of gambling by j ''oivJlisrd Slat OS. di-cursed the totalisator i c)i!f>tion. Ho averred that it exited in | i thi> country under fal-e pretences. It ; ! w.-i- introduced in on lor to de>troy the | ; bookmaker. The Hall Government was | ■explicit c.n this. It was argued 'hat it j would not only blew the "bookie" away , trr.in every oo!in>e in the land, but that | til;- tax o*f 2s in the'll would deter j i£ii::l!in<:. sines the public would not be , tooU enough to invest in a machine I which would ateorb oven- XI in the j of a tlay's racins- The "tot* , . b;id tailed every way. Investment* had ; . !ea]>.d up from toOO.OOO to tI.oOO.OMj in yvars. and the "bookie" .-till , , evU-unl. A racing authority in this tr.« :i had interviewed Mr North during the week. ;md had told him that at. a j H'tT-t nH-etin<j. where t hy "tote", had ' L7OO on it. one "booki."' , had shown him I eSOO on hip book alone, and then* were j 102 of the fraternity on the course that ! day. What could l>o for s> ««»- j i chine which had fai!e<l to kc-op every promise road.' on its behalf, winch had popularised which had mul'i- ' plied •the !K«>kmaker. and made entry on that hiMiimvw simplicity i'wli ? ; Mr North averred that Sir William ; Fort e-tiniated the situation -rightly I wlien ho said that the localising of the j machine, was an attempt to exterminate ens, by enrou racing the breed of kit- ' ien< Mr Srddon had figured as nn I antagonist- to the Bill in IHBI. Re would prove his humanity and serve the I nation by abolishing it in 1900. 1 Mr North .-«trongly condemned the i Roman Caiholic Church for nob only I raisins no protest against art unions. J but for .constantly increasing its applicalions for permits.. H<- quoted last ' year's figures—Anglican permits li>, |i<oman Catholic 53; and went on to read the following letter :— •Bishop's Hou.Ms, Cliristchurch, New Zealand. Eastertide, 1000— "My l)«ir Sir, —Allow mo to send you these* art union tickets, with the earnest request, that you, with your usual generosity, will do all in your power to dbposo of them in aid of the Christehuroli Catholic Cathedral. The Holy Father gives a. special bkssmg to tlie undertaking and to nil who contribute Thereto. He has graciously fient ne a donation of two beautiftil gifts for tlie. art union. The present pro-Cathedra-l Ls dedicated to the. Most Blessed Sacrament : tho future Cathedral will bo dedicated to the samo adorable sacrament lof tlio altar. One of the chapels we ! propose to erect in honour of the Holy i Souls in Purgatory. The dear departed I friends of all contributors will bo therein continually prayed for. In the meantime we promise n I daily memento ki our masses and { prayers, and especially tho divine oflice and the holy .sacrifice, of the mass once a week for all generous donors. —I remain, yours faithfully in Christ, J. J. Grimes, S.M., Bifchop of Christchnrcli.'"" Mr North said he. had not meant to pn'blish thus document, and only did so under direct challenge from tlic Roman Catholics. He. Wievod it wias not an isolated document.