GAMBLING IN WAR-TIME

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 109, 5 November 1917, Page 8

GAMBLING IN WAR-TIME

REMARKS BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

Gambling, particularly in time of war, came in for severe condemnation at the hands of the Chief Justice, : Sir Robert Stout, at the Supreme Court to-day. In his,charge to the Grand Jury concerning charges of conspiracy to defraud a number of bookmakers, his Honour 6aid that, although the case was an interesting one, it wae disgraceful that such a case should come before the Court. It opened up the question as to whether they, as citizens, were going to permit a continuation of gambling in these times of strain and stress. . It was inconceivable that so much time and money should be spent in gambling when the: very nation wae engaged in a struggle for life and existence', when many homes were sorrowing for the loss of dear ones. It was a. reflection on rtie Railway Department that its clerks should be engaged in gambling instead of attending to- their public duties." It seemed to him that there must be some lack of control if clerks were able to use the direct wire between Trentham and Wellington in order to transmit the resuite of hows race\ It spoke little for the moral tone of the community. .. ■•