THE GAMBLING MANIA.

Evening Star, Issue 8815, 3 May 1892, Page 2

THE GAMBLING MANIA.

Preaching at Auckland on Sunday on ' The Gambling Disease and its Remedy,’ the Rev. J. Berry (according to a telegram to the ‘ Dally Times ’) said onr society leaders set the rest of the community a very bad example, and it was necessary to speak some plain words to them. He spoke specially to the select circles who constituted clubs. At a southern olnb it was said that a visitor was fleeced of a considerable sum of money through the parties who introduced him. In Wellington it was said that L3OO a day went in various forms of gambling by what are called the upper classes. If such people set the fashion, what can we expect from those who imitate and follow ? But they must look nearer home. What about the Auckland local dabs? Just now the air of Auckland was electric with suppressed excitement on this question, and whispers were passing from lip to ear of very high gambling said to have been carried on within the club walls in past years. It was impossible altogether _ to Ignore what he had on the highest authority. It had mantled his oheek with shame that such things could even be said of gambling within select social circles, whether they be true or not. After careful consideration he had decided not to make them public at present; but the time had oomo when these clubs should either vindicate themselves or purge themselves from even the suspicion of such practices.—(Applause.) That these things had been done, if at all, in profound secrecy, and unknown to the majority of members, he qnite believed. It was a common sight at BUerslia to ace yourg boys and gms betting with bookmakers. The preacher held in his hand a number of tickets issued by licensed bookmakers and layers of totalisator odds to inmates of the Costley Institute. There were seven of them, and they represented an aggregate amount of L2 Is. They bad been round upon the clothes of the boys, and had been passed to Am to make of them any use he saw fit. He also mentioned a case in which three boys, members of one family, the eldest of whom was under twenty, bad literally won LIOO by betting on athletic sports. Two of these boys belonged to a Sunday school The law protected children under twelve from the pawnbroker and the publican, hot not from the bookmakers; hence the disgraceful scenes be bed referred to. The Board of Relocation should request school teachers to

instruct the children bn the evils of gambling) that the totallsator should be suppressed; and that legislation ehonld be passed prohibiting the publication of bettiog newt, quotations, end “ tip*."