GAMING QUESTIONS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 253, 9 July 1926, Page 8

GAMING QUESTIONS

THE ART UNION SYSTEM TRANSFER OF TOTALISATOR PERMITS Art unions and the transfer of totalisator permits were tlie subject of some discussion in the Horse of Representatives yesterday on the motion to table the annual report of the Internal Affairs Department. Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East) referred to the unnecessary prohibition on the publication of racing dividends, tbe details of which could be obtained by any who wanted them. Mr. Lee urged that a certain preparation of racing clubs’ revenue should be taken for tbe purpose of providing playing areas for the children of the country. Mr. Lee also spoke against the transfer of totalisator permits. The indiscriminate issue of art union ■permits was roundly condemned by Mr. T. W. Rhodes (Thames), who said that tn some cases the raffles were infinitely worse than Tattersalls. With many of the art unions the great part of the proceeds had gone to “Mr. Expenses,” to the detriment of tbe deserving object for which the raffle was promoted. “A lot of people are getting fat on the business,” added _ Mr. Rhodes. “I don’t know who they are. The whole system is wrong, and I hope and trust that from this day onward a limit will be placed on the expenses of art unions. In no case should they exceed ten per cent.” Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland East) said that a good deal of money went to Tasmania for Tattersail tickets, and a good proportion of the prizes found their- way to New Zealand. Poor people who could not afford to visit the races availed themselves of the chances provided by <he shilling art union, and they waited patiently until the drawing date. The Prime Minister: Patience is wanted, all right Mr. Parrv said it was just as well people had a chance to “live in hope” sometimes; it was a good thing for the countrv, which did not want to see long faces. While he had no sympathy with the way some art unions were developed, he did not think the position at present warranted tbe Minister taking very drastic action. His advice to Mr. Bollard was to deal with the art union system from the common-sense and human point of view.

Mr.'FT. Holland (Christchurch North) said that gambling—the desire to get something for nothing—in New Zealand was getting beyond all reasonable bounds, and in view of the prejudicial and injurious effect such a condition was likely to’ have on the children, strenuous efforts should be made to subdue it.

Replying, the Minister (Hon. R. F. Bollard) said that he thought the art unions were under control now.