GAMBLING IN OFFICES

Evening Star, Issue 18640, 22 May 1924, Page 10

GAMBLING IN OFFICES

BLAIR CASE DISCUSSED. Strong exception was taken by the Council of Christian Congregations this week (sirs the Christchurch ‘ Sun ') to a. statement made hv (he Prime .Minister (Right Don. IV. F. Massey I concerning a. post office official. Roland Blair, who was convicted on a charge of acting in the capacity of a bookmaker during office bouts, later, a petition was forwarded to the. Chief .lustice (Sir Robert Stout! asking for his release. The words which caused the. Council of Christian Congregations In lake action were—“ That if Blair had been guilty of taking bets on a racecourse 1 would have had no pity upon him.'' The Crime Minister had been asked for an explanation of his statement, but he had refused to give it.

The following resolution was carried unanimonslv

“The C-mincil of t’Kristian Congregations regrets that the Prime Minister (the Right. Hon, W. F. Massey) had no explanation to offer of Ids stoteme-nt in the Blair cave -10 wit, ‘ that if Blair had been guilty of taking bets on a racecourse 1 would have had no pity upon him.’

“The council regards such a statement as an apology for gambling off the racecourse, ami expresses the conviction that legislation embodying such a. sentiment would he detrimental to national wellbeing.” The Rev, .1. J. North said that a. good deal of publicity had been given lo the Blair case, and from the Prime Minister’s point of view it was a bad thing to make such a statement.

Mr Burns, in moving the. motion, said that, the nfiiees ; ml factories were training grounds for gambling, and he considered that, lift ting in factories and offices was a far greater evil than gambling on the racecourse.

Mr d. C. Pindhoe. said that the. Prime Minister's statement tended lo encourage Civil servants to bet during office hours, 'The Civil servants were there to do their work. The statement could he read in such a way that, the Prime Minister gave his approval lo this sort of thing. It would have been better for the Prime Minister to have i xplained himself.

The Rev. J. .(, North said that, Cabinet reversed the sentence of the court, on a man acting as a. bookmaker. The motion was earned.