THE TOTALISATOR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 November 1925, Page 8

THE TOTALISATOR.

THE VICTORIAN PROPOSAL. OPPOSITION BY CLERGY. In a sermon at the Collins Street Baptist Church in Melbourne recently, the Rev. W. I>. Jackson referred io the proposed introduction of the tot alia ator in Victoria. He said that many church people, not from any carping spirit, were opposed to the Government’s suggestion. The plea had been made that revenue was required for charities, and that 12 per cent, on totalisator investments would provide between £200,000 and £300,000. Suiely a community which could afford to risk £2,500,000 in betting could bear £250,000 in txtra dirtct and straightforward taxation. Ai year or two' ago England had rejected a proposed tax on betting, said Mr. Jackson, even though heavily burdened with post-war taxation, and surely Victoria could afford to do without revenue from the totalisator. . The plea was also> £iut forward that the totalisator would do good by eliminating the bookmaker. Many experienced observers, however, doubted whether it had done so in other States. Charities, which ought to be a first charge on the generosity and sacrifice of the people, was to be regarded as a last charge upon a form of amusement concerning the ethicsi of which opinion was divided.

At the Wesley Clhgrch. on the same day the Rev. J. H.. Cain declared that never had the people been so incensed as they were regarding the present proposal. Three years ago a similar measure had been introduced, but it had been defeated in the House. He had been told then by a member of Parliament that its defeat would mean that the proposal would be shelved for 10 years. The matter had been again brought forward, and the people would require to fight it to the hast ditch. Preaching at the Auburn Method ist Church, the Rev B. W. Heath remarked that Hie State Ministry was making the .sacred cause of charity an excuse for introducing the iniquitous totalisator, which would ultimately defeat its own ends, apart from going far to justify the unenviable reputation Australia. was. gaining of being a nation of gamblers. The proposal had shocked the moral sense of thousands of loyal supporters of the Ministry, and should lead to its ignominious overthrow It was a humilitating confession of moral weakness on the part of the Ministry, and eloquently proclaimed its absolute ineptitude and incapacity for financial administration.