MINISTERS AND GAMBLING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 610, 13 September 1909, Page 9

MINISTERS AND GAMBLING.

'TATTERS ALLS CLTTB-A QUESTION OF ; . SINCERITY.' , ; (Dy Tolcßrapb.—Bpociai Oorrcsoondent.l Auckland, September 11. i- The action of .the Hons. J. A; Millor and J Carroll, in speaking as they did at Tattarsalis Club, Wellington, is arousing protest hero. The "Herald"-.this morning says:-. „- "The action of the Acting-Prime Minister and the Minister for Railways.in attending tho opening of Tattorsalls Club in Wellington constitutes'sucb a grave publio scandal that wo are compiled to support tho protest which ;is being made. Only a short time ago tho Government prosecuted and secured a conviction against a small' publication which had published betting odds, yet members of tho Gov-' crnmcnt openly patroniso and - encourago a club largely composed of professional . bookmakers, whose business consists of betting. Wo do not doubt that many bookmakers wish to carry on their business as .fairly as is possible under all the circumstances, but the fact remains that the business is a bail one, mid that tho'better-influences in tho State aro being directed against it. ' • . . • . "The-action-of tho Ministers in question forces' us to ask whether the Government i 6 sincere in its attitudo towards tho gambling evil, f° r it ' s l u ' to impossible to regard their attendance at the club opening as other than an expression of .sympathy with an ovil wliich the Government professes to bo desirous of abating. Every judge and . every magistrate ogreo in denouncing facilities and opportunities for gambling as particularly dangerous to' youths, and as the.direct cause of many lapses into crimc. What cxcusc then can bo offered for this Ministerial endorsement of tho gambling evil aa represented by auoh clubs."