THE GAMING LAWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 February 1947, Page 4

THE GAMING LAWS

ROYAL COMMISSION OPENS INQUIRY ADJOURNMENT TO MARCH 4 (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 5. The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the gaming laws met this morning in Parliament House for its first public sitting. After six counsel had announced their appearances and made tentative arrangements for presenting their submissions at a later date, the commission adjourned until March 4. The commissioners are Mr. Justice Finlay (chairman). Mr. W. H. Freeman, S.M., and Mr. J. W. Heenan, Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs. Counsel Present. Counsel who appeared this morning were Mr. E. D. Blundell, with Mr. H. R. C. Wild, both of Wellington, for the Racing Conference, to be joined later by Mr. A. T. Donnelly (Christchurch), Mr. C. A.-Thomas (Christchurch), for the Trotting Conference; Mr. W. E. Leicester (Wellington), to be joined later by Mr. T. P. McCarthy, for the Dominion Sportsmen’s Association; and Dr. A. C. Mazengarb, with Mr. J. R. Marshall, for the associated churches. Dr. Mazengarb said the churches he represented were the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, Church of Christ, Salvation Army, and Society of Friends. He understood that other religious bodies would make separate representations not inconsistent with the case he represented. Mr. Leicester said he would present the case for the legalisation of off-the-course betting, and at a later stage would like to be heard for the Levin Racing Club on the question of an extra day. J The chairman, looking towards a dozen or so of the public present, asked whether anyone among them wished to address the commission. Opportunity for Public. One of them, Mr. T. Donovan, asked if the public would be given full opportunity later to present matter to the commission, and was assured that every opportunity would be given.

Outlining the case he would present for the churches, Dr. Mazengarb said: “We desire to see the existing law maintained and in certain respects enforced. We will resist any attempt to make legal those methods of gambling which are at present illegal.” The chairman: Does that mean that your clients are prepared to accept a report which does not extend the present facilities? —Yes. They desired, added Dr. Mazengarb, to point out where the law was not at present being enforced and to suggest how it could be enforced to give effect to the ideals that the Legislature had had in mind over a long period. Mr. Blundell said he understood the presentation of the Racing Conference’s case in its initial stages would take three or four days. Mr. Thomas, for the Trotting Conference, said that extra trotting days would be sought separately, and he understood that Southland and Auckland were instructing counsel for those areas. Government Officials. The question of the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Broadcasting, <md the Director-General of the Post Office being summoned before the commission was raised by Di. Mazengarb, who said he would like an opportunity of hearing from them about matters “that alarm certain members of the public.’ He mentioned lotteries and the broadcasting of race results. The chairman said that the mattci could be gone into when the need or justification arose.