GAMBLING LEGISLATION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18101, 17 June 1924, Page 8

GAMBLING LEGISLATION.

♦ ATTACK ON NEWSPAPERS.

DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS-

The manifesto issued by the Council of-Christian Congregations and the subsequent newspaper comment called forth a flow of rhetoric at the meeting of the Council last evening. The Rev. J. J. North took exception to, the doubting of lu's figures and the criticism which has appeared in the editorial .columns of "The Press," while Archbishop Julius • expressed himself .'as well satisfied with the contents of the pamphlets put for-ward-by Mr North and said that he had no regret in boing associated with a man so strong and wise. In addition the following resolution, proposed by the Rev. J. F. Coursey and seconded by Mr S. J. Arehibold, was carried:—''The Council of Christian Congregations views with increasing concern the danger that threatens the well-being of the community through the gambling legislation to be brought down under' Government a.uspices this session. The council calls attention to the fact that the Government is introducing a Bill providing for something like 30 extra, clays' racing; And that no assurance has been given that clubs condemned by the recent commission as superfluous and undesirable be suppressed. The council aiso calls attention to the demands of the racing clubs, which will no doubt be moved as additions to the official Bill, providing for double totalisators,'■and for the right to telegraph money on to the machine. In the judgment of the council this cutsi at the principle that underlies the gambling legislation, viz., that gambling shall be restricted to the racecourse. The council is also convinced that the request of the neiyspaper proprietors for the right to publish tips and dividends is exceedingly dangerous, since it is provocative of totalisator betting, in small amounts and from door to door, the very sort of betting which most, surely demoralises the community." Before discussing the motion the Rev. J. J. North said that the matter was of great public importance. The three pamphlets which had been prepared had been sent to the business men, together .with a covering letter l signed by himself and Archbishop Julius. The figures had been very seriously challenged by men in editorial chairs a'nd it had been suggested, that he was not straight. A minister's only asset was his character, and a. minister would be convicted of duplicity if it was. shown that he. had twisted his> statements. He would have lost his standing as a minister of the Gospel. The figures quoted and stated had not been challenged in the country in which they were mad© originally and were supported by an important racing organisation in the Turf Guardian, Society, an organisation which existed to protect the- racing clubs in Great Britain against attack. The figures were taken from a. London paper, a clipping from Which a. friend had sent to him and marked the "Chronicle" of London, April 23rd. It was possible, of ooursje, that the friend had made a mistake. The number of betting days, anyway, was beyond challenge, because the figures were from the statements of the Turf Guardian Society. , However, the council was not concerned with'that debate at all. for they did not touch this country. With regard to the statement that he had been careless with his figures, if he had used careless figures,, he ;did not feel. he should stay.in office. The Manifesto. ". With regard to .the manifesto, Mr North said that, it had been left to two retired business men to draw up the list of men to be visited. A group of ministers and laymen met and smaller lists were made from these and entrusted'to various members of the .council who wore detailed to cany out the interviews. In all there were 149 signatures of men who were opposed to additional race days in the Dominion — preferring if anything a redistribution —and also being opposed to the limits on the Press being removed in regard, to the publication. of racing news and betting. There were 43 refusals, but many of those who refused to sign said that they Were personally sympathetic but could not sign for business reasons. Thirty-eight heads of banks and similar business concerns were visited, and of these only three were hostile, while four were sympathetic but unable to sign for other reasons. It was obvious, said Mr North, that the overwhelming majority of those approached were not in favour of the extension of the number of race days, new.powers for clubs (double totalisator), nor extended privileges for the Press. This.showed that the majority thought the impending Government legislation ,«, 'direct menace to the welfare of the community; The resxilt was most refreshing, especially when it wns considered that some of the business mem had signed with, alacrity, and others only after very careful consideration. Only one had been sympathetic to the demands of the Press for permission to publish tips and dividends. This would be-provocative of small betting, and the great majoritv of the business men were openly hostile to increased Press privileges. In other centre's the work was going well forward, >from Auckland to Ihinedin. « Strong Talk. The Kev. J. F. Coursey, in moving the motion printed above, said that the letter ; covering the manifestoes was issued: with the full approval of the Council. It had been cried down by a section of the Press, it was up to the Council to tell them that the Council did not believe its leaders were liars. The object of the newspapers was to throw dust in the eyes of its readers. The Council considered that the number of racing permits as at present \ve*e sufficient, if there were any needs for such sufficiency. He could not be stigmatised as a racing expert but he knew there was too much gambling in New Zealand. He .knew gambling was an evil and was sapping the moral fibre of. the young people of the Dominion. No totalisator permit would be granted with any vote of his. In no country in the world was there better social legislation than in New Zealand, but much of this legislation was got over. Although the State endeavoured to confine betting to the courses, it was a fact that subterraneous betting was going on. Telegraphing investments to the totalisator would increase betting, and this would be injurious to the moral well-being, of the community. The publication of dividends had been discussed. He would say nothing more about that, but regretted that in 1924 the Government was bringing down a Bill which included that. The report of the last Racing i£Zj„f nd * the unhol y alli ™ ce of the of P th Lf racing and the opponents iita fi i n tX°oth? Co —-^ mo«on S - ArCMbold seconde <l the Not Converted. _ The Rev. S Lawry said that although the editor of' < The Press•> had not been converted, the writer in the Times" of yesterday morning had de eided against an increase of racing days, and said that the proposed Gov eminent Bill was not satisfactory! to (Continued at foot of next column.)

anyone. After pouring abuse on Mr North, this scurrilous writer in the "Lyttelton Times," who had descended to' simple abuse, and had not touched the merits of the case, had changed his view in regard to permits. The Rev. H. Williams, in supporting the motion, said Mr North had taken a great line and he felt he should identify himself with Mr North when that man was bearing a great deal of attack. The chairman (Archbishop Julius) said that the newspapers had suggested that he had been beguiled and led astray by Mr North and humbly done as he was told. He was not in the habit of signing documents which he did not believe to be true. In addition he might do worse than follow a man so strong and -wise as Mr North.' He put his name to the document because he believed, it to be true. The Press got hold of the matter unfairly and made it the avenue of personal abuse, utterly unfair and utterly untrue. Mr North had very good grounds and the speaker said he had no regrets that he had put his name to the document. It was also decided that a deputation consisting of Archdeacon P. B. Haggitt, Professor J. B. Condliffe, and Mr ™ H - R°se wait on the Crinterburv Members of Parliament to-day in connexion with the matter.