THE GAMING ACT.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2646, 15 May 1923, Page 4

THE GAMING ACT.

The action of an Auckland jury in flouting the summing up of a Supreme Court Judge in a recent gambling case has provoked a good deal of comment here. The politicians who assisted the Government in effecting the amendments in the Gaming Act which made betting an offence punishable by imprisonment are insisting that the. majesty of the law must be maintained, while those who opposed the amendments are urging that they must be repealed in order to preserve the dignity of the Courjs and the credit of the country. The Minister has given no indication so far as to what he intends to do in the matter, but it is thought probable that a further amendment of the Act will be attempted during the approaching session. The proposal may be in the direction of withdrawing the right of an accused person to be tried by a jury, and in view of what has happened during the last year or two this drastic step might be acceptable to Parliament. But the popular opinion is that if proceedings were taken against the bookmakers' customers as well as a.gainst the bookmaker him-» self the evil of illicit gambling would be very materially reduced.