GAMBLING SPIRIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22391, 11 April 1936, Page 13

GAMBLING SPIRIT

CLERGYMEN'S PROTEST FEWER FACILITIES URGED USE ,0F ART UNION FUNDS ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT An assurance that whatever steps were taken by the Government in connection with gambling in New Zealand, common sense ewoukl be applied to them, and that a very careful survey would be made, was given by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, to a deputation representing, the Auckland Council of Christian Congregations which waited on him on Thursday. The deputation expressed concern at the growth of the gambling spirit in New Zealand, and the increase in facilities provided in the last few years, with particular reference to art unions.

Five clergymen, representing different denominations, comprised the deputation. Thcv were tho Rev. J. A. Thomson, president of the council, the Rev. L. B. Busfield, secretary, Archdeacon Mac Murray, tho Rev. E. 1). Patchett, and the Rev. Dr. J. J. North. "We are convinced that gambling is a degrading influence, and always a degrading influence, on the character of the people," Mr. Thomson said. "Wo recognise that it may reasonably bo contended that it is a task for the Church rather than for tho State to hold in check the gambling spirit, and we are not desirous of shirking any responsibility we may have, but we believe that it is the task of any Government that has the highest interests of the people at heart to see that the facilities for the expression of this spirit are held in check." ".The Moral Well-being "

Archdeacon Mac Murray said the wellbeing of the community, which the Government was seeking, had three aspects, the material, intellectual and moral sides. It was extremely important that the Government should do_all it could for the physical well-being and the intellectual development of the people, but surely it was equally important that it should discharge its responsibility in the direction of securing the moral well-being of the community. "I think our streets should not be cumbered with the tables and facilities for selling lottery tickets," Mr. Patchett said. "It seems to be an offence in the eyes of so many of our citizens. I should like to see the Government take up the matter of the publication of the names of those who have secured prizes." Dr. North said it was felt that the Government's predecessors had left a mess in the Dominion in regarding to gambling. Another very important matter was that it had now become extremely easy to send money to Tasmania, and large sums, growing in /volume each week, were going to Australia. Speaking of gambling generally, Dr. North said they were not prohibitionists in the matter, but their request was that facilities should not increased.

Work and Leisure

The Minister, in reply, corrected a misunderstanding he said had arisen as a result of a recent speech he made at Kotorua, and one which had resulted in many protests. He said the aim was for a 40-hour jveek, five days' work and two days' play, but he did not imply anything more than the provision jpf leisure and means to enjoy it. The history of art unions, and their origin as a means of enabling works of art and other articles to be disposed of, was traced by the Minister. The hjstory of the Act went a long way back, he said, and it was still in force. He said he was pleased when he had a thousand pounds or two to give to the poverty-stricken people of the country. After the unemployment bonus had been given by the Government at Christmas, there were still people not provided for, and he had no hesitation in dividing among them £SOOO out of art union profits. Approximately £500,000 was going out of the country to Australia, and art union receipts in the Dominion had dropped very considerably. At first they reached £IB,OOO, but now they ■yrere down to about £6OOO. » Relief ol Distress

There was no doubt that a fairly large section of the community enjoyed taking a ticket, the Minister said, lhe law concerning art unions was there, and it. would be administered in _ the best possible way. He had decided that what money he got would go to help distressed people, and he would not depart from that. He could assure the deputation that no steps would be taken by the Government that would make for tho degrading of the people. The Minister stated earlier on Ihursday that tho profits of the recentlydrawn Leap Year " - art union amounted to £SOOO and the whole would be devoted, in accordance with the policy of the Government, to the relief pf distress throughout the Dominion. The distribution would be made mainly to- the various mayoral and other officially-recognised central relief funds.