THE GAMBLING EVIL VICTORIA.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2036, 7 August 1906, Page 3

THE GAMBLING EVIL VICTORIA.

Those who have read the recent articles in ihe Review of Reviews will not be surprised at the uprising of a strong anti-gambling movement in \ iclioria. Gambling has evidently got a lirm gi'i[) of the community, and the gambling fraternity and the "Tote" men in particular weild an enormous influence amounting it wotdd seem to even a "Reign of Terror." The head of the Police Department seems not only powerless but evidently unwilling to put tlie strong' arm of the law in force. The recent kicking to death of a "Weleher" on Remington racecourse has accentuated the position, Public opinion is not with the Weleher, who tried in make oil' with his ill-gotten gain:;, but against, the terrible hold the gambling mania has, and which led its devotees to do him in death. At J'endigo on Sunday. July ~2'2, the Rev. .11. Worrall preached at (he '■olden square Methodist Church on the subject, ''Who slaughtered the body and murdered the soul of Donald McLeod, bookmaker ?" "There are men," the speaker said, "sitting in our houses of Parliament on whose head will rent his blood. There are men who have; a title to their names, but who should no! be our representatives. Sir Samuel Cdlott stands m hig'h authority, and I inipca''h that man to-night in Clod's name, with the blood that has been (lowing from the wounds of gamblers. 1 impeach him with the responsibility of the evils that arc round about us. It is nonsense for him to pretend to be powerless to stop the scourge which is creating around us a ivery Gethsemane of woo and trouble.'' This was adjudged a breach of privilege, and Mr Worrall was summoned to Ihe bar of the (louse. lhis was the one step which lifted the agitation from the commonplace and focussed the public mind on the gambling curse and its ramilicalions. Mr Worrall became a hero. Numbers of churches and other bodies passed resolutions supporting him. A special train was chartered to convey him and his supporters to Melbourne. The Government ordered two hundred police to be present, at Parliament House, in expectation of a big demonstration. The departure from Bendigo of tho special train with Worrall and some 300 of his supporters was the occasion of a remarkable demonstration. The streets were lined with peoj pie, and business for a time was pracI but, if t'hoy lmd douo 'thoirl moral and

official duty to Parliament by tho laws in their possession, or by introducing legislation as tho circumstances of tho times and the voice of the people demanded, tho tragedy would not havo occurred. Premier Bent moved—" That. Mr Worrall had been guilty of breach of privilege in uttering a false, umChrislian, and malicious libol upon the mombers of the liouho, and that lie be severely censured." A lively debate ensued, the personal remark* of Premier lient and one or two others in reference to !\lr Worrall nearly causing several scenes. The word "malicious" was struck out of (lie motion, which was carried by ;if> to 2(5. Mr Worrall was recalled, and the Speaker admonished him, concluding by saying that he trusted tin* admonition would have the ell'ect of warning other reckless speakers to be more careful of their language in speaking of public men. Hut the episode has made a deep impression oil the public mind of Xictoria, and is not likely fo end with the admonition.

tie-ally suspended. Escorted by members of his church, carrying a (lag bearing the words "Hold the Fort," they marched to the station, when; several thousand had eongrogated. Appropriate hymns were sung, and prayers offered at the train amid great enthusiasm. Similar scenes occurred at many stations en route. At Melbourne a crowd of several thousands awaited the party's arrival and greeted it with cheerinir and sinking "Onward Christian Soldiers." At Mr Worral's re<|U<st there was no demonstration in the streets, and he drove away in a cab. Al Parliament House, where a

strong force of police was in attendance, another big crowd cheered him. Appearing' at the bar of the House, .Mr Worrall, in reply to the speaker, admitted making the statements plained of, and read a lengthy document suprmrting tlii'in. Jle said he did not mean that. Members of Parliament, by actual physical contact, caused the death of Mcl.eod, tin* "sealer" on Flemington racecourse, or any other victim of the vice of gambling,