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Evening Star, Issue 13002, 22 December 1906, Page 2

Ik the courto of hk Speech at Napier last wfiek Sir Joseph Ward made The Premier some emphatic remarks or; on the subject of tho gambling OemMlng. evil. Uiri appreciation of

the seriousness of the mis chief is the more ughiticant jn that he is not hatuwlly drawn to this clans of reform : indeed; perhaps it would not be too much to toy that Ills instincts and temperament incline him to the other direction. His disposition is not puritanic, and lie takra a large and genial view of social life in its varied aspects. I’o qrioto his own words at Napier: “It is needless for "me to say that I am not attempting to “ pose in any way in this matter—nor am “I desirous of being regarded as a re“former.” Observation, nevertheless, has obnviuced the Premier that the Government and Parliament of this Colony are under an imperative obligation to take come effective eteps with a view to reducing the extent of life gambling evil. He does not entertain the possibility of getting rid of it altogether, arid his practical estimate of what is feasible makes it all the more likely that he will succeed in carrying a netful measure of reform. Ho recognises that “ the sport of horse-racing is one “that thousands of crar people of all Claeses “ believe in ” ; and he might boldly have substituted “ gambling ’’ for “ hoise-racing ” without overstepping tho mark, for it is sheer affectation to assume, that horse-racing would flourish to any appreciable extent in New Zealand if there were no betting. It is necessary to accept the fact that public opinion lias not reached the point which would justify tlic Government in proposing id make all gambling illegal. Whether that point will ever be reached is a Inorc or lass academic question, which wfe are not disposed to discuss: the present problem, as the Preririer says, is “ how best " to check the evil and to allow tire legiti“mate pleasure of a large section of the “ community to be carried on without m- “ iury to the body politic." Some peop'e will cavil about the term “legitimate pleasure,” but this consideration need not detain us ; for it is quite clear that if reform is to bo carried it must be by tho aid of (Hat section of public opinion which is of the moderate, give-and-take, practical order; arid not in obedience to the dictates of puritanic extremists. The extent of the evil is sometimes exaggerated, but it ie admittedly serious. It may be that the Premier himself goes too’ for- in declaring that “a greater evil than the drink traffic “in New Zealand Is that of abnormal “gambling.” Such comparisons are negligible, however: the reality of the mischief i<, tho salient fact. It will be remembered that tho Go rein merit brought down a Bill at a lato period of last session, rind presumably action of a more prompt arid resolute kind will bo taken when Parb'ament meets again. Ministers have bocri and will Ke severely criticised in certain quarters on account of their refusal to propose the abolition of the tolalisator; but it. eeCnto to us that they are able to show more than plausible ground for their policy in this respect. It has never been proved to our •satisfaction that the TeJnovnl of tiro machine would lend to minimise the worst forms of tiro evil as it actually exists: indeed, we

.•■to not sure that some of those forme might not be seriously accentuated. And r.uless it can bo conclusively shown Hut (ho totalisitor makes matters worse than they otherwise would be. we-must refuse to support the abolition movement merely became the Slate derives a certain amount of revenue fiom tho working of the nlitchine. We cannot away with the moral pedantry upon which this doctrine rests. The Premier. after careful consideration, has satisfied himself that tho following should he tho chief points of reform:—lt should be made criminal to allow betting ou horseracing in any shape (including tho totnlisa tor) by anyone under twenty-one years of ago; the number of race meetings throughout the Colony should be reduced ; the backing of houses Should be permitted only on a racecourse ; the present system of allowing the telegraph wires to bo used between centres of population and race courses should be abolished ; and the publication of odds should be prohibited. The Premier is of opinion that a measure of reform on these lines would cats© “ the sport '• of horse-racing to be legitimately carr-si “ out ” ; and though this is too optimistic a view, there is no doubt that tho provisions mentioned (perhaps with some additions) would serve to reduce the proportions of a public scandal and save many foolish youths from trouble and disgrace. We thoroughly agree With Sir Joseph Ward that the Legislature would not be going beyond its province in taking steps to secure these ends, and it is to be hoped that there will be ho fatuous talk abou: “ interference with the liberty' of tho subject.” The Premiers view of this aspect Of the matter is clear and Sound. I ftel it is incumbent upon me to state that, while anxious to avoid interfering with the private or business occupation of anyone in our country, where such a widespreading evil is fixing its roots deep into the country's moral fibre something must be done to protect the younger generation—who in the yeara to conic will take oiir places—from themselves in tliis matter. The subject is sure to be widely discussed during the next few months, and the Qo‘vemmont will doubtless be gkid to consider any practicable suggestions; but we trust that tho treatment of the question in all quarters) will be characterised alike by moderation and Seriousness. Fanaticism on either Side is strongly to be deprecated.

electorates." But in Clntha; Oamaru,' and Chalmers the Temperance party, according to our view, have reason to. be satisfied with the changes • recommended by the Commission. Takihg Chalmers first, the cutting out of Musselburgh, Which last December bast a heftW vote for Continuance,. Slid the. absorption of the entire Waikouaiti County, in which a pronounced and steadily-growing Prohibition sentiment has been manifested for many years, must fill the publican mind with much apprehension. If it were a matter of cold arithmetical calculation, it does not seem possible to avoid the conclusion that Chalmers-must declare for Prohibition in 1908. And in respect to both Clutha and Oamaru the accessions of new Country must help the temperance cause immensely. If our view is correct (and we hare considered the matter aided by tile experience of thinking mod in both camps), H does not require powers Of porphccy to foretell that 1908 is likely to witness the hoisting of the flag of Prohibition over the extensive district bounded to the south by the upper part of the North-eaSt Valley and to the north by the banks of the Waitaki itself. All these assumptions arc based on the present Parliament being permitted to run Its natural course. Since payment of members became fixed and permanent in this Colony triennial Parliaments have invariably run their allotted span, but we cannot shut our eyes to what is happening, around ns in States that enjoy, like ourselves, short-lived Parliaments and pay their members with equal liberality. Last year Queensland was put to tho espehso and tutmoil of a General Election, and South Australia has just emerged from a like ordeal with every prospect of another within the next three months. Therefore, notwithstanding the political quidnuncs, it is quite conceivable that circumstances may arise in New Zealand to compel His Excellency to recognise the right of his Advisers for tho time being to consult the constituencies on » grave issue which had ho existence When their feelings were tested under the mana of another leader. If that contingency should occur, in what position would tho Local Option ]K)11 be, and what influence would it have, the issue to be put before the country rr • i is a very large and far-reaching questto... on which constitutional lawyers, not laymen, will in all probability have to exercise their wits otic of these days.