INCREASE IN BETTING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25084, 16 January 1947, Page 5

INCREASE IN BETTING

CHURCH NEWSPAPER’S COMMENTS FAILURE TO HALT INFLATION BLAMED “Despite the efforts of the Government at stabilisation, it has not succeeded in checking inflation, and much of the excess money in the pockets of carefree citizens has found its way into the totalisator.” This is the reason given in a leading article in the “Outlook,” journal of the Presbyterian Church ot New Zealand, for the betting record established at race meetings during the holiday period.

“Gambling is a means of entertainment for many people who enjoy taking a risk in the hope that they may secure substantial .gain. It is a dangerous and unsocial form of entertainment. Such a statement is not confined to the moralists, for many people who themselves support gambling and, strangely inconsistent, use their influence to extend the facilities for gambling, nevertheless are not slow to confess that gambling is an evil to be deplored,” it is stated. “There is no doubt at all that illegal bookmaking is a flourishing business. The cases which often come before the courts give plenty of evidence or that. But the law against theft is also broken with even more distressing frequency—yet no one seems to suggest that the right course is to abrogate that law. Why such tenderness for the bookmaker? The trouble is that so many conspire to keep the bookmaker prosperous in his illegal business. The racing fraternity itself, including as it does so many seemingly worthy citizens, encourage him &ith their custom, but what is even more serious, Government departments themselves have the reputation of placing their facilities at nis disposal. “The Post and Telegraph Department has more than once of recent years been in the limelight because of its seeming fondness for the bookmaker, and a recent book, written by a one-time official of the broadcasting service, made some startling statements about the way in which that service uses and is used by the bookmaker. No adequate reply has been given by either department to the charges made, and presumably the practices Still continue. If that is so, the Gaming Commission would do a further service if it brought these matters into the open. Surely, it should be expected that Government departments should be the first to honour and the last to dishonour the law of the land. The prohibitions made would be more effective, if departments of the State would act responsibly. - “Many loose statements are made from time to time about the slackness ot the police department in this particular matter, but the frequency Wjih which cases of bookmaking are brought before the courts give the lie direct to irresponsible charges. The truth is that the police are greatly hampered in their duty when other departments encourage the law breaker.

“Gambling is a serious social evil—that is a statement which receives the approval of every responsible citizen. It seems impossible at this stage to legislate it out of existence, but at least the facilities for gambling should be decreased and its way made difficult,” adds the article.