RACING PERMITS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21730, 12 March 1936, Page 14

RACING PERMITS

POSSIBILITY OP INCREASE FEARED STRONG CONDEMNATION BY PRESBYTERY Alarm at the possibility of an increase in the number of racing permits and a possible consequent increase in gambling was expressed at the meeting of the Christchureh Presbytery yesterday morning. The Rev, John A. Allan, chairman of the publie questions committee, referred to a statement by the Minister for Internal Affairs that with the coming of two days' leisure a week there might be a need for the issue of more racing permits. "It may be a feeler thrown out by the Minister to see how people will respond, and it is -up to -as to bite, said Mr Allan. He moved a xesolu-| tion that the Presbytery was opposed to increases in the facilities for gambling, saying that such »*•££. tion was perfectly general, perfectly vague, and vg#j&» ) % g g' some- & af gambling: m 2J2K vJfSSßallied with, other forces for. progress. But tarts, extreme form gambling is. Je worst social evil. Even those who like a little flutter airee that there is a need o keep gambling within bounds. Even those who are Mfocieted with gambling agree with this. The ixovSent g wiU not make laws.unless, it is told to. We represent a large'section of public opinion. We should tell our views to the Government in no that the Bjate was considered, at least in countries, as being neutral in moral and spiritual matters. It was the duty of the State, however, to make provision for the good life, and the Christian Church should say whal-thisi was In discussing gambling the Churcn had no axe to grind. Usually it had been those who had interests in gambling that were allowed to discuss it, and even the Government could be said to have vested interests in gambling. The Church had no interests and had a right to speak. _ Mr Watson expressed a nope tnat the system of pools with small amounts run by bookmakers in England on football matches and dog-racing meetings on a postal system would never get hold of the New Zealand public, The Rev. J. S. Reid: The matter should go further. It should go to the Broadcasting Board. During the last six months the racing news has increased twofold. Half the news hour consists of racing news, The stations have almost gone to the extent of giv-: ing tips, as is done in Australia. A protest should be made to the Broadcasting Board and the increase in racing news should be stopped, The motion was carried, Mr Allan stating that the committee would bear in mind what Mr Reid had said.