THE LAW’S DISTINCTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21982, 17 June 1933, Page 17

THE LAW’S DISTINCTIONS

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —That bewitching game called pak-a-poo appears to be captivating in more senses than one, as we are continually reading about some unfortunate Chinaman being brought before the police court and heavily'fined. But what about/that equally bewitching and popular but aristocratic and fashionable game called contract bridge, now being played for gain in many drawing rooms, every afternoon, by society dames and their daughters, when many of the matrons should he at home preparing the evening meal for their husbands and families?

Has not the police equal powers to invade these well-known homes of iniquity, where petty gambling, pure and simple, is continually practised and a very bad example is set to the future generation of matrons? I know little of the law on the subject, but surely our legislators, with all their faults of omission and commission, have not so far been left to themselves as to make laws to regulate the lives of only one section of the community and not to make laws for gentle and simple alike. This new bewitching game, affected only by the cream of society, is not confined to afternoon play, but is also indulged in by both sexes in the evenings for gain with varying results, sometimes objectionable. A friendly game at cards is in no way objectionable, but gamblers do not know when to stop, especially if there are “pigeons” about, and I have had experience of the evils of play for gain amongst the young of both sexes and found them very far-reaching.—l am, etc., Pater.