Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE TUESDAY, JULY 27th, 1920. ABOLITION OF BOOKMAKER.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 July 1920, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE TUESDAY, JULY 27th, 1920. ABOLITION OF BOOKMAKER.

The Gaming- Act Amendment Bill got through committee in the Mouse of Representatives on Wednesday with much less damage than its friends feared. The only amendment of any consequence made in the Minister’s proposals was the concession of trial by jury to any person accused of offending against the provisions of the measure. This means, in effect, that the prosecution will have to prove the defendant’s guilt, instead of the defendant having to prove his innocence, and though Mr Downie Stewart declared during the course of the deha te this concession would greatly lessen the efficacy of the new law, we confess we welcome it ourselves as a recognition of one of the high principles of British justice. A man being tried for an offence punishable by twoyears’ imprisonment, it seems to us, should have the right of ap-

peal to the judgment of his peers. There veil I .be differences of opinion in regard to the refusal of the Minister in charge of the Bill to accept an amendment legalising the use of the “double” totalisator by the racing clubs. When sportsmen of the. type of Sir George Clifford, the Hon. Oliver Samuel and Mr George Hunter, who certainly are as much concerned for the-.welfare of the community as they are for the interests of tire racing l clubs, contend that the restoration of the “double” totalisator would free the sport from one of the graves't of the evils that beset it, their opinion must be received' with very great respect. But it appears to us that if a double totalisator were operating at every rare meeting in the Dominion and the telegraph offices were authorised to transmit investments, the clubs themselves, to say nothing of the Telegraph Department, would lx very seriously embarrassed by tho volume of business that would come their wav. Just fancy Die enormous sums of ihonpv that would be flying about at Christmas time and Hasten time with n dozen lotalisatoTs planted no and down the country and invitin'*' bi’chTpso from any and. every n:*"l of the Dominion. We hiav be wrong, and we hesitate to set up

our judgment against tlie judgment 01 tlie gentlemen we have just mentioned, but we should expect such an orgy ; of gambling to produce a revulsion of public opinion that would be scarcely less perilous to the good name of the sport than the shady operations of black sheep amoifg the bookmakers' are at tlie present time. It would be more prudent, in our judgment, to increase the number of tpta’lisatcr permits and so, within reasonable limits, encourage provincial race meetings, than to run the risk of creating the state of affairs we have indicated. If people ‘ must have “doubles” they can obtain what they require by backing their two fancies on the machine, and so make sure of a run for their money and a hotter mice in the

rare event of their being successful. r ' i PARLIAMENT’S DOINGS. Parliament is progressing' steadily with its work, and there is a considerable absence of wasted time. Legislation of importance to the progress of the Dominion has been discussed, but it is most noticeable that little or no attention is being paid to the needs of the West Coast. So far as the Government is concerned, this portion of the Dominion might well he swept off the map. When there is a coal shortage or tlie lack of timber is more evident than usual, the Minister concerned makes the usual reference to the West Coast, where there is abundance of coal and timber, which would he available for use were it not for certain,difficulties that lie in the way. The Minister does not take tlie trouble to explain that these difficulties are due mainly to the Government’s neglect, and could be removed easily were Mr Massey and bis colleagues truly alive to their responsibilities. We find Auckland and other North Island members clamouring for roads, railways, and other essentials for closer settlement, Init no one is found advocating' the cause of the West Coast ef the South Island which, since the days of the late Hon. R. .T Seddon and the late Sir A. R. Guinness, has been shamefully

neglected by the Government. So tor a<? natural resources and scenic beauties are concerned, this side of the Alns eon surpass any part of either island, but unfortunately it lacks population. This is a grave defect in the eyes of politicians. for population raean° votes, which nr° to the average M.P. o v Cabinet Minister the be-all and end-all of existence. Those vho are acquainted with the West Coast are ova re that it Ins some of the finest daily land and cattleraising country to be found anywhere in Xev Z 'aland. Lock of bridges,- reads and radvays prevents closer settlement, and vill continue to do so until o really up-to-date and patriotic Government assumes control of the destiny ox the country. The men vbo are at present in charge of the country’s affairs think too much of the interests of the small portion ox the eaitlTs surface that has returned them to Parliament. Their vhole aim is to please their constituents, secure votes and thus retain their seats. There can he no progress for a country that is plagued with such representatives as these. West Coasters cannot he blamed for the politicians’ apathy. They have gone to considerable pains and

expense in inviting M.P.’s to visit this part of the South Island. Tliey have treated the legislators with that profuse hospitality for which the Coast is famous, and have left no stone unturned to enlist sympathy for the nee r ls of the West Coast. The M.P.’s talk most grandiloquently, and enumerate the requirements of the West Coast to malm it rich.and prosperous. They return to their homes, but when Parliament assembles they do not cany out the promises made. The only reference to the Coast will probably he some very hoary joke picked, up in some wayside tavern, where they made a short sojourn while travelling *on the Coast. Our local bodies must keen • hammering away. We know that the task is not a pleasing one, hut it is the only method that will bring ultimata success. The formation of a West Coast Progress League might serve some useful purpose provided that it was composed of men who joined for the purpose of doing solid work and not merely for the purpose of collecting the expenses allowed and gaining preferment in some other manner. Mr Massey must know

of the splendid dairy and cattle hind that can.be purchased cn the West Coast for a comparatively small price. lie professes to he the farmer’s friend, and yet, so far as he is concerned, nothing* has been done to induce settlers to make their homes here. ' The little progress that has been made has been done in spite of the Government and not as the result of its efforts. Attempts should be made by the people here to induce men =-with capital to invest some of the money at their disposal in the various tempting propositions with which the Coast abounds. 11l the days gone by gold was the greats lure that brought men to this part of the world. The main portion of the yellow metal, has been secured, but there still remains sufficient to,give a handsome return to the lucky speculator. Improved methods of gold saving* and working enable the miners to work ground that was formerly unpayable. Even in the timber industry fresh possibilities are arising. The world-wide shortage of paper has caused men to consider the possibility for utilising* the bush that is so abundant here. The reports received have been of a most gratifying nature, and cWorts are now being made to place the scheme on a practical basis. The

introduction of hydro-electric energy will provide the Coast with an abundance of cheap power, and thus enable many 7 new industries to be established, and these will be. the means of attracting' fresh settlers. At the present, time the Coast is starving for the want of Government attention. Everything and everybody want a good shake-up for the-country’s welfare.