GAMING REFORM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20332, 13 August 1929, Page 10

GAMING REFORM.

ATTITUDE OF CHURCHES.

OPPOSmON NOT UNDERSTOOD.

"BETTING ON CREDIT" EVIL

Difficulty in understanding the attitude taken up by some of the churches in opposing the Gaining Bill was expressed by Sir Edwin Mitchelson, president of the Auckland Racing Club, at the annual meeting of members yesterday, when he commented upon tho amendments to the gaming law which Sir George Hunter proposes to introduco during the current session of Parliament.

Sir Edwin said that Sir George Hunter's bill had for its objects the telegraphing of money for investment on tho totalisator through the secretaries of racing and trotting clubs, and the publication of dividends, concessions that had been repeatedly asked for. Several Gaming Bills had previously been introduced in Parliament, and, while they received the support of a considerable majority of members, for some unaccountable reason they failed to reach the Statute Book. In view of tho position of the present bill on the Order Paper thcro was a danger that it would nuet tho same fato as its predecessors, but it was hoped that the Government would concede an opportunity for tho bill to reach the second reading, so that racing and trotting clubs might receive financial benefit through it being passed into law. Tho Consolidated and Post and Telegraph revenue would also be considerably increased by the passing of the bill.

Churches Supporting Bookmakers. " It is somewhat difficult to understand tho attitude taken up by some of the churches in opposing tho Gaming Bill," continued Sir Edwin. "If they took the trouble to make inquiries in a broadminded spirit, they would discover that the evil they profess to find in betting really arises from tho operations of the bookmakers, who are a decided menace and are moro worthy the opposition instead of what, at present, really amounts to the support of the churches. .Bookmakers have increased in number in the Dominion and have for some years past been reaping a great harvest owing to the fact that money cannot be telegraphed for investment on the totalisator. " The churches should set their attention to tho elimination of the bookmakers, who do so much harm to the community by encouraging betting on credit—tho real cause of the troubles in which young men become involved in this and every other country, and which, with its compulsory cash system, the totalisator does not bring about. 1 hold that while betting is legalised it should be directed to its legitimate channel, the totalisator. 'lhe inclination to bet is inherent in every race, and can bo destroyed or abolished voluntarily only by every person determining to forgo and stiflo those tendencies which have been inherited and followed throughout tho centuries. Here I would like to express tho hope that recent disclosures in the press of the dubious methods pursued by bookmakers may soon serve to disillusion those who do business with them, and that tho result will be for tho benefit oi racing and racing institutions."

" Part of Mental Make-up." Sir Edwin quoted the following extract from the London Evening Standard of June 5 last:—"The man who does not make a bet either thinks that gambling is inherently sinful, or else suffers from some other eccentricity which separates him from his fellows. "There is 110 eccentricity in failing to find racing very exhilarating form of entertainment. There are plenty of amusements for us all, and each one of us is entitled to choose that which he prefers to the of all others. But there is something eccentric in the man who remains completely and perpetually indifferent to what so many of his countrymen find an absorbing pastimo. It is part of the mental makeup of a full man and a human man to be able to take an interest at least in all the great sports which delight our people —in the Derby, in tho cup final, in a Hugger international, in a test match, in tho Wimbledon tournament, in the fight for a boxing championship. . Support of the president s views was expressed bv Mr. C. E. Major, who said that in addition to tho views advanced by the chairman thcro were a number of others. "If you destroy the gambling spirit you destroy the whole motive factor of humanity," said Mr. Major. Practically everything was a gamble, from tho planting of a crop to the setting up of a business, so often did success depend upon a chance circumstance. Eater Mr. Major moved that a letter should bo sent to Sir George Hunter thanking him for the good work ho is doing on behalf of the racing and trotting clubs, and expressing tho hope that he may succeed in gaining tho = equitable amendments sought. Tho resolution was carried unanimously.