CHILD GAMBLERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 142, 20 May 1925, Page 5

CHILD GAMBLERS.

“HOUSEY-HOUSEY” CRAZE

RICHES FOR PROMOTERS. MELBOURNE, May 2. Although the clergy strongly condemn the “Housey Housey” craze, which is keeping citizens out of bed after midnight, the game is steadily growing. Last night, a newspaper representative visited a shop in Prahran. When lie arrived at 7 p.m., evidently play had been in progress some timej and it was after midnight when the proprietor closed down. Between 7 and 8 p.m., the people around the game were mostly boys and girls from 10 to 18 years, aid women shoppers. When the establishment closed among those who filed out wero six boys, who, when questioned, said they were from ten to thirteen years 'of age, and three girls, who appeared to be about sixteen to eighteen. From 8 p.m. till J 0.30 p.m., the crowd consisted of women, many of whom were carrying baskets, and some had young children with them. After 10.30 the company, chiefly consisted of women and voutlis

it was estimated that the promoter’s profits for the night were £25 10s, exclusive of wages for attendants, lighting and rent. The profit is small, however, when compared with the takings, as at one stall at the St. Kilda carnival recently where £65 was the result of-four hours play. Clergymen condemned “Housey Housey,” as a menace to home life. They urge that steps! be taken ‘to rid the streets of this temptation that makes for the undoing of the community’s morals.”