WHAT PARLIAMENT WILL DO

Evening Star, Issue 14413, 8 July 1910, Page 7

WHAT PARLIAMENT WILL DO

ALL SPORTS DEALT WITH.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, July 8.

Tho probable effect of this session's gambling legislation is one of tho most interesting subjects at present occupying the attention of members. letters from all parts of the country are being showered upon members, amongst whom there seems to bo an almost unanimous opinion that the bookmaker will have to go. In the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon several members briefly referred to the subject, and an interjection by the Attorney-General (the Hon. Dr Findlay I wont to show that any proposal to abolish tho bookmaker will receive his support. Dr Findlay intends to deal with the subject in the course of a speech in the Legislative Council next Wednesday. Mr Newman’s Gaming Amendment and Bookmakers’ Abolition Bill was circulated yesterday. It is intituled an Act to Amend the Gaming Act of ISOB._ Its chief provision is to repeal section 54 of tho original Gaming Act. The section in question at present enables committees of racing clubs to license bookmakers and collect fees for the issue of such licenses. With the repeal of this section it is proposed that all licenses now in force shal lapse and be of no effect. Tho nature of the amendment is intended to apply to horse racing, nony racing, racecourse betting, and other forms of sport, including football matches, shooting matches, and competitions. In the course of Lis remarks during tho Address-in-Reply debate in the House, Mr Lang said he wanted to lodge his protest against the legalisation of the bookmaker when the last amendments were made to the Gaming Acts. Some of those, most desirous of reform had-enthused over the new legislation. His reply at the time had been that he could not understand how it was that anyone opposed to gambling should be satisfied to give the bookmaker a legal status. The totalizator was bad enough, but tho bookmaker was worse. Mr Poole: It is all had.

Mr Lang: Yep, but the bookmaker represents tho'worse feature of gambling. One only needs to quote recent criminal capes in Auckland to force that home. It can at least be said for the totalizator that tv lien you put your money there you know what you are 'doing, but with the bookmaker there ia the risk of running up accounts and getting from bad to worse. I trust that this session Parliament will emphatically assert itself. Mr T. E. Taylor is another member who wants to see the bookmaker abolished, and the member for Christchurch North gives it as his opinion that the House will vote as one man for the extermination of the bookmaker.

[Per United Press Association.]

THE AUCKLAND MOVEMENT,

A conference was held at Auckland yesjeiday afternoon between committees representing the business men of the commurr'tv and the Auckland Ministers’ Association for the purpece of considering what steps should he taken to combat the gambling evil Mr J. Stewart, who was elected to the chair, said lie did not think that there could be any diversity of opinion with regard to the utterances of Mr Justice Chapman. There was not the slightest doubt that the gambling evil was eating into the heart of the commercial community. The matter had to be grappled with. The Kev. Knowles Kempton (president of the "Ministers’ Association) -voiced thc appreciation of the Ministers’ Association at the action of the local business men, and said ho thought if they adopted the tactics of Napoleon, by marching at an angle and dealing with the bookmaker, • they would achieve a victory as glorious as he ’had done.—(Applause.)

Tho Rev. Mr North considered the whole community were indebted to Mr Justice Chapman.' He agreed that they should concentrate their energies on one thing at present—the abolition of tho bookmaker. The following resolutions were adopted unanimously: That this meeting commend the serious

attention of parents, business men, jour

aalisfs, members of Parliament, churches, and the general public to the very solemn utterances of His Honor Dir Justice Chapman in the ,S«premo Court on June 25 last against the great evils of gambling. That in view of the strong, remarks of Mr Justice Chapman at the Auckland Supreme Court on the evils of legalised gambling. Parliament having granted to bookmakers a legalised calling, which calling has been responsible’ for the

temptation and downfall of trusted ycung men, this meeting, representing £o'many commercial and industrial employers, earnestly desire that a deputation of business men proceed to Wellington and make an earnest appeal to tho Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice to have the legalised bookmaker’s calling removed from tho Statute Book of our Domtoion, and tiiat a deputation from this iirerting trait upon the Chamber of Commerce and lay this vital question before the members for their consideration, and that they be respectfully asked to join in appointing a deputation to proceed to Wellington to tarry out the important request of the petitioners.