THE ANTI-GAMBLING CRUSADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19197, 13 June 1924, Page 2

THE ANTI-GAMBLING CRUSADE.

Sir, —To a sporting man brought up in England tho various letters appearing in the columns of the press at present are amusing. So far as I can see, one section of the community (I believe termed “Wowsers”) views with dismay the possibility that additional facilities may be granted by Parliament for the enjoyment of tho sport of racing. What axe has thi* section to grind? Another section, composed of tho racing clubs, are of tho opinion that tho operation of the totalisator is quite in order from a moral aspect; yet, in their opinion, to divert a pound from (lie machine to a bookmaker is to sink to the lowest depths of infamy. Their axo needs re-forging, let alone grinding, They want a monopoly. Now (lie Government. So far as racing is concerned, tho country is on tho best wicket of all. The tax on dividends, stakes, amusement tax, etc., must bo a source of pleasure to the Prime Minister, and perhaps that is the reason that the Government leans so much to the racing clubs. To please the latter (ho Government says: “You may back your fancy in Brown’s paddock because Brown has a totalisator, but you must not do that in Jones’s paddock, otherwise we shall deal with you severely in tho courts.” In other words, this means you may make a wager at Wingatui but you must not do so in Christchurch. This to my mind seems idiotic. Why should a Christchurch man be prohibited from doing what his Dunedin brother is allowed by law to do? Tho Christchurch man who wants to bet will do so, and as tilings are the Government gets no revenue from his pleasures in this direction. Would ,it not be wise, then, to license a few reputable men in each town, tho number according to population, and thus bo able to control this so-called betting evil, besides deriving considerable revenue from it, instead of making futile attempts to stop it —a state of things which will never be accomplished according to my English experience. The Rev. ,7. J. North would then discover a very effective check (o the growth of an army ’of small bookmakers which to his mind would arise with the publication of dividends. —I am, etc., K. K. South.

TO THE EDITOR.