THE GAMING ACT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6384, 5 December 1907, Page 6

THE GAMING ACT

INVESTIGATIONS BY A REPORTER

riIESS ASSOCIATIONCHRISTCHURCH, December 4. A ropresontativo cf a local newspaper, who sot out to-day to ascertain whether etroot-botbing was being carried on in Christchurch, and, if so, to what extent, succeeded in mailing one bet with a bookmaker direct and two others with agents of bookmakers. Two of tho bets wore made on tlie street and the other in a hotel, 'i he investigator is convinced that he could have made many more hots had he con tinned hi; '/piost further. Some, of tiro bookmakers approached said that they wore waiting for licenses ami did not want to bet. “A FATAL BLOT.” CHRIF/TCfT L'RCIT. December 4. At, the meeting of the Canterbury Mothoclinfc Synod to-day tho president, (ho Rev, .11. U. Dewsbury, in referring to .die new Gamin;.; ami Lotteries Act, sai l I.hat there might ho sonio aihuiraWo features in connection with it, but tdro perpetuation of tho totalizator was a fatal blot. A still ghastlier blot was the licensing of bookmakers, and lie bojmd the Methodist Church would express itself strongly regard/, ng everything that tended to put its imprimatur on vice—that 10-gaiised and rendered resnectabln a traffic which wap in a large degree detestable. GASLIGHT SPORTS AFFECTED. AUCKLAND, Decernlk.t 4. One effect of the passing of tho Gaming Aft will probably be the abandonment of the weekly gaslight sports which have lioou held regularly for about eighteen mouths. At these gatherings. which user] to be attcnrie.d by thousands, a great, clea.l of hotting was carried on, and now that the hotting, which seoma to have been tho chief attraction, has been stopped, tho attendance has fallen off to such an extent that the promoters will probably discontinue the meeting. At to-night’s sports loss than two hundred persons wore present. WAIRARAPA RACING CLUB. LOWER FEES ANNOUNCED. (Special to the “N.Z. Times.’’) FF.ATHERSTON, December 4. The Wnirarapa Racing Club to-day decided to allow bookmakers on the course at its summer meeting on payment of a feo of £ls inside tlie lawn, on tho flat, and £7 10s outside, one clerk to bo allowed each bookmaker.