GAMBLING CRAZE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 15, 19 January 1933, Page 11

GAMBLING CRAZE

LAW NEEDS EEVISION

CONSIDERED STATEMENT

MORAL EFFECT BAD

' (From "The Post's" Representative.) ' - LONDON, 6th December. Evidence on behalf of the Chief Conr stables' Association for the cities and boroughs of England and Wales was given before the Royal Commission on Betting. In their printed statement of evidence this association said there was difference of opinion among members on a number of points, but there was an almost unanimous opinion on:— (aj The necessity for the amendment of present legislation relating to most forms of gambling. (b) The necessity as far as possible to suppress street betting. (c) That gambling was increasing. (d) That gambling had no good moral effect on anybody. (c) That the number of "Tote" or pool clubs was increasing rapidly. (f) That there was considerable use of children in connection with betting. (g) That if the (jQvernment decided to "legalise forms of gambling not" at present legal strict control should be established and persons and premises licensed. . . ■ / (h) That the cause of the alleged contempt for .the present law with regard to betting was the, oft-repeated statoment that there was one law for tho rich and one for the poor. ' There was a sharp division of opinion relative to the quostion of whether the State should or should not permit certain forms of gambling not at present legal, and whether or not further prohibitive laws would stop the practice. . They were almost unanimous in tho view that tho existing law with reference to lotteries required reviewing. All were of opinion that if the Government, in the exercise of its -discretion, should allow lotteries they should be strictly controlled. ' v CTJMtniATXVE INFLUENCE. Lotteries of a minor character, more popularly known as Christmas draws, and efforts of a similar" nature, so long as they were not for the gain of any private person, appeared to be more or less harmless. Lotteries on a large scalo created some excitement, were very popular in some quarters, made- much of by the Press, were largely contributed to by people who could ill afford the money, their cumulative effect was difficult to assess, they were productive of much swindling and fraud, and yet notwithstanding these features wore looked upon with favour by a large section of the ■populace so long as they were restricted to. charity. It was the opinion of many of them that lotteries 'on a large scale had a very pernicious influence, and that influence would be cumulative if not having immediate effect. Further, under no • system of regulations would it bo possible to divest lotteries of their potential evils. On the subject of street betting, the witness's memorandum said the unanimity of opinion in tho association' relative to tho suppression of street betting was rather remarkable. It was generally described as an intolerable nuisance, and the desire was expressed that it should bo suppressed. Yet it- was said by many Chief Con-stables-that under tho existing law it was very difficult to suppress. TESTING- PUBLIC OPINION. Mr. Eobertson, Chief Constable of Renfrew and Buto, in evidence, said that the conclusions ho had como to from the correspondence which ho had received in reply to an advertisement which he had placed in newspapers with a view to testing public opinion were: (a) That there was a majority in favour of recognised sweepstakes; (b) that the majority of the present subscribers to voluntary hospitals would continue their support should sweepstakes be recognised officially.

The number of coupons and signatures to petitions he had received favouring legal recognition of sweepstakes for charitable purposes was 59,687.