Crime fear raised by casino plan

Press, 31 January 1989, Page 1

Crime fear raised by casino plan

By

ANABRIGHT HAY

and KAY FORRESTER

Church groups and anti-casino campaigners fear organised crime, corruption and social problems would accompany casinos into New Zealand.

The organiser of People Against Casinos, Mr Eric Livingstone, said he was extremely disappointed about the recommendation to set up casinos in New Zealand contained in a report by the Committee of Inquiry into Casinos, released yesterday. He said social problems would

accelerate if casinos were introduced and organised crime often resulted from activities where there were large amounts of cash to be had. Prostitution, gambling and drug-dealing were often associated with organised crime, he said. People Against Casinos was formed after Mr Livingstone placed advertisements in newspapers seeking members. About 100 people responded. The group would continue to campaign against casinos, he said. The Methodist and Presbyterian Churches’ public questions committees expressed concern to the Government last year about the casino proposal. A joint district superintendent of the Methodist Church in North Canterbury, the Rev. Max Hornblow, said a fund for the rehabilitation of problem gamblers did not absolve the Government and society from having made a bad

decision. He described the rehabilitation fund proposed by the Committee of Inquiry as a “whitewash.” But he said the Church had to be careful about making rules for non-Christians and people had to accept responsibility for the lifestyle they chose. However, the group would continue to oppose casinos The Salvation Army has been among Christian groups to make submissions to the Government select committee on casinos. The assistant Salvation Army public relations director, Major Peter Savage, said that as a social organisation the Salvation Army was well aware of the high level of social distress caused by gambling. Casinos were a further opportunity for the fabric of New Zealand society to be whittled away. Crime at all levels would be increased regardless of tight controls, Major Savage said. Meanwhile, one of the promoters of a casino proposal for the Civic Regency complex in Manchester Street said the proposal was still alive. Mr Bruce Currie said he and his partner — as Club Casino, Ltd — believed the former Civic Offices would make a “brilliant” casino.

They were talking to “an awful lot of people” who wanted to be involved in the project, he said. “We now need to get a copy of the report (by the Committee of Inquiry), read it and see how best to package the proposal,” Mr Currie said. He said his company would be happy to talk to other South Island promoters planning casinos for centres other than Christchurch if the report recommended a South Island-wide package by a single company. “If they are looking for a single-company approach to more than one casino in the South Island we will need to identify the other promoters and get together,” he said. Among those Club Casino had spoken to were Australian casino operators who believed the Manchester Street site was ideal. A North Island company, Community Casinos, Ltd, said independent market research it had commissioned showed strong support for a casino in Auckland. The company, a joint project between the Portage Licensing Trust and the Avondale Jockey Club, said an initial survey by the chartered accountants, Price Waterhouse, showed a casino in the region would pay its way.

Further reports, page 6