THE TOTALISATOR AND GAMBLING.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18551, 28 November 1925, Page 19

THE TOTALISATOR AND GAMBLING.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE FEESS." Sir, —As a reader of your paper I cannot understand your article of the Kth inst. You describe those opposed to you as well-meaning bigots and you go ou to describe the reasons they give for their opposition, and then you sum it up by saying, "All this kind of stuff can bo excused in men who know little about the facts." "Why don't you give us som© facts yourself and tell us tho good it lias done to mankind? Ask the butcher ? the grocer, and the baker, how their bills are paid when there are race meetings on in Christchurch. Further on you say that on the New Zealand racecourse one will find plenty jof men and women who are aa good Christians as any opponent of the totalisator. Well, if they are on the racecourse for the purpose of gambling I have to learn that it is a Christian duty or grace to do so. The teachings of Christ and his followers are against all this way of making money, and when you will show one that the teaching of .the New Testament favours your way of thinking then I will be convinced, and not till then. .Gambling to my mind is an evil, and has been the downfall of many a. promising life, and if for 110 other reason it should be curtailed. —Yours, etc.. JOHN 'SUTHERLAND 1 .

Christchurch, November 27th. . (If we were to abolish everything that has been "the downfall of many a promising life'' there would be nothing left in tho world. As for the sinfulness and anti-Christian quality of bettingj the onus of proof is upon the objectors. When they produce their texts we shall produce ours.— Ed., "The Press."]