Minister's Views On Gambling
(P.A.) WELLINGTON. This Day. “We recognise that state and public opinion is not such as to make prohibition of organised gambling a practical possibility," said the Rev. P. Gladstone Hughes, Presbyterian minister, of Wellington, in evidence before the Gaming Commission today. Subject to that limitation the churches believed that Parliament must legislate on moral matters in the interests of society, he said, and such legislation should seek to prevent or punish breaches of moral law and never to condone them or derive revenue from them.
The churches, he represented, therefore, advocated a maximum restriction of organised gambling. The chairman (Mr Justice Finlay): The problem is one initially of education from the church?
Mr Hughes: Yes. The churches envisage ultimate prohibition of organised gambling by gradual elimination of inducements. Mr Justice Finlay: You do not recommend prohibition of gambling now because prohibition would olfend against the ethical standards of the community. Mr Hughes: It would drive gambling underground. STRENGTHENING LAW The churches suggested, said witness, strengthening of the law for suppression of illegal gambling as well; as the establishment of a special department of the police force to deal with it.
Other points put forward were that there should be an immediate and continuing reduction in the number of totalisator permits as well as elimination of profits of racing and trotting clubs from the totalisator. To Mr E. D. Blundell, for the Racing Conference, witness said the chuches—of which he represented seven—depended to a very large extent on assistance from the state to swing the pendulum of public opinion away from forms of organised gambling. Mr C. S. Thomas, for the Trotting Conference: You recognise that the church must deal with ’ circumstances as they are?
Mr Hughes: We have to tolerate them.
Mr Thomas: You realise that the commission may recommend that some form of off-course betting should he adopted?—Yes.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19470314.2.27
Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 14 March 1947, Page 4
Word Count
313Minister's Views On Gambling Northern Advocate, 14 March 1947, Page 4
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