THE BOOKMAKER

Grey River Argus, 22 July 1910, Page 7

THE BOOKMAKER

As for the position of the bookmaker in existing legislation, their had Been a process of evolution gpirg "n in this country regarding the .desire to control the gambling evil. The legislation Of 1907 contained proposals of a far-reaching Kind, and in order to get that, legislation through there were . men — and he though Mr Aitken was one — who voted to put the legislation on the statute booic, because it was providing a tremendous advance in the way ur controlling the evil The majority -f members believed that by centring- tne betting on the course it woull be removed from the ordinary everyday life of the people the cities. Thus, a .certain amount of temptation would have been taken away from those in the towns, who previously had had it everlastingly before them. But it had been undeniably disappointing, and the fact remained that many respectable bookmakers — and it must be admitted that there were some respectable men among them— had made representations recently urging that ah alteration be made in consequence of the admission of sections of the bookmaking class who ought never to have been admitted. These added to the number of bettors and the investments made to an extent which was righly raising- a general outcry against. the system. THE GOVERNMENT SINCERE. As far as the Government was concerned, it was quite . sincere in submitting its proposals to Parliament. Every member of the House had a i right to exercise his vote as he tfiought proper, and personally he would exercise it as he had publicly indicated. He believed the only way in which the people, could be impressed with the necessity of properly controlling a growing evil which was a canker in many families was by showing that public men at least were anxious to co-operate with those who wanted, not only to stem the gambling evil, but to wipe it out. The Government proposed to submit its resolutions for discussion this week", and whatever proposals were' agreed to by Parliament would be brought down and -put on the statute book this session. (Applause).