SOCIAL QUESTIONS. POWER OF THE MASSES. THE GAMING ACT.

Evening Post, Issue 51, 29 February 1908, Page 9

SOCIAL QUESTIONS.

POWER OF THE MASSES. THE GAMING ACT.

[Bi Telegbaph.— Special to This Post.] AUCKLAND, This Day. "There has uever been a time since the dawn of history when so many great social questions confronted tho world as at the present time," remarked the Rev. W. Slade, in tho course of his retiring address at the Mothodist Conference. "Everything points to a gigantic reconstruction of tho bases of eociety. The masses are everywhere awakening to a. sense of their power at the poll, and will not much longer submit to the many inequalities which, because they are hoary with age, have been apt to be regarded as being as unchangeable as the law of gravitation or the laws of light. It is of immense importance that in this recon- • struction Christianity shall play a preponderating part." In referring to tho Gaming Act of last session, he said: — "Past experience baa taught us not to make haste in pronouncing a final verdict on Acts of Parliament of this nature. It has happened not seldom that Acts which were passed to remove a social evil have introduced other evils of a worse character. I may instance the totalisatoi for t\\t> lessening of gambling and bott]e licenses for the cure of intemperance. For this reason I leave the new Gaming Act «o the test of time and experience."