CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11551, 15 January 1901, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

.:: WASTED WEALTH. j r j ' • - TO THE EDITOB. ■ •. Sir, —In . the interesting, article that recentljr appeared, " Why do We : Gamble ?" by . Tohunga," it is stated that during the ' : recent holidays £100,000, went through the totahsators in our . colony. The Year •. Book shows a steady increase since the ; machine ' was licensed by the > Government. In 1 1891-2. the amount was £506,078, the Treasury' per- ' 'V centage £7591. In; 1899-1900, the { amounts . £ respectively were £1,065,580, percentage 'k' £15,983. It is of interest to note , that the Government were , quite ' willing to abolish the totalisator in its earlier years, but now state that they want the revenue. This should be an object-lesson to those who advocate'the Government having a direct pecuniary interest in what may not inaptly be termed the vices of the people, as it shows the "increasing opposition when you propose to touch Government finance. ] . " Tohunga": says : "We don't know enough to spend our margin in a civilised manner." Possibly so, but if so, it does not say much for the various educational agencies at work. Our colonists are amongst the best, as highly : intelligent as any people on earth; as great readers. So that we may. fairly surmise that the press, speaking generally, does' not deal with the gambling evil so fully, and frequently, as the best interests of : the community warrant. But is it the margin only i that finds its way into the gambler's net ? Tradesmen, and house and debt collectors, - cojild furnish abundant evidence • that it is j not so. The writer knows of cases where ! women have pledged their husbands' credit, unknown : tQ them, to put their "bit" on the totalisator. - ' Government patronage gives an air of re- ' 1 spectability to the machine, Recently, in /! an Australian newspaper I read that New Zealand spends nearly £300,000 per. year on gambling, mostly in connection with racing., What is spent in connection with other forms can only be surmised. It is time for the workers to consider this important ques- - tion. ' There are hundreds of them 'in this . T;,' colony who are making regular weekly con- - tributions to various sweeps, consultations,. ■ etc.'' _' . _ _ . ! • • . Question, Considering the amount of lime spent, in connection with this evil, combined . with the money, and remembering that speaking generally the public-house is a common resort where this business is fostered, talked; about, etc., and that the consumption of liquor entails large losses, financial, physical, and moral, upon those who indulge, and unfortunately, upon others as well, is it possible for us to maintain our commercial po- : sition so heavily handicapped ? Thoughtful people see great dangers ahead, j No country in the world affords, a better - opportunity of voluntary co-operation than New Zealand. If the workers i would cease supporting so many parasites, and turn their attention to these matters, also to political questions, and remember that their own fireside, their clubroom, or hall is infinitely better than the bar-room to discuss these matters, they would find the discussion of these questions would touch their heartstrings, and :tighten their purse-strings from the: gambler's fascination. Some practical reforms would includc a. yearly limitation of racing days, also of the totalisator, with a view to its speedy extinction. Public opinion, or some other influence, should compel masters of our teaching institutions to keep away from the racecourse, and thus set an example to their pupils. Combined with those the post office f to cease distributing gambling incitements, . and -the press to give less publicity, with the co-operation of other beneficial, in- ' - fluenccs, we might reasonably hope • for'ft , / ->1 great curtailment of 'this national- vice. -1; a y ' etc '' '