QUEEN CARNIVAL COLLECTION

Otago Witness, Issue 3200, 14 July 1915, Page 33

QUEEN CARNIVAL COLLECTION

THE METHODS CONDEMNED. At tho conclusion of the ordinary business of tho Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association Executive on the 12th, the treasurer (Mr Lewm), intimated time two letters had • been received from tho Dunedin Presbytery. The first conveyed a resolution passed by tho Presbytery relative to rallies and art unions connected with tho Queen Carnival. This resolution was published on tho 7th insfc. The Revs. A. M. Fin lays on and E. A. Axelsen made a lew remarks as representing the Presbytery. Air Finlay son salt! that tho Presbytery regarded gambling as too much in evidence in the carnival movement, though it approved of tho movement, and hoped it would bo succcsslul. Mr Axelsen said hr thought the course being pursued was a very dangerous one for young people. During the last 10 months wo had had a tremendous increase in juvenile offences, and he had found the same condition of things in Wellington a little while ago. Dr Fulton moved that the matter contained in the motion by the Presbytery bo referred to tho executive of tho Queens Carnival Committee. The Rev. R. B. Gray expressed the opinion that things had gone so far that they could not be stopxicd. Ho went on to point out a great deal of what was being, carried on was illegal, the Government not having removed certain restrictions. It had been suggested to him that the position should be decided by a prosecution of tho heads. He did not think that the chairmen of the various committees wore meeting the situation as they should do. He urged that all should make an effort to lift things on to a higher platform, for they wore on a very low plane at present. There was distinct gambling going on, and it would have to be stopped. There was a totalizator at the B rye lone Hall, and there was a racing track over which tho table took 2s every time and the winner 4s. He had been told that there were also two roulette tables. This was a positive scandal to the city, and would have to be stopped. The Queen Carnival Committee ought to bo informed that the association, as representing the citizens, would not tolerate such open faced and scandalous gambling as that. Mr J. A. Johnstone said that tho Queen Carnival Committee, of which he was chairman, had tried to deal with this matter, but it had no authority, and could only say that it disapproved. The Rev. Mr Gray said he thought the executive should express an opinion upon tho matter, and move a motion (which appears in a modified form later on) in that direction. He maintained that if the Queen groups were responsible for tho notorious gambling that was going on, and were not amenable to the executive of the association, then the police would have to step in and stop what was going on. Mr G. Fenwick seconded the motion, and said that the executive had a responsibility it could not shirk. He v\as quite in sympathy with Air Gray, that no man or woman who went in for these raffles should seek to make any profit out of them. He did not think Mr Gray had expressed himself too strongly in condemning gambling- in such scathing terms. The Rev. Father Coffey said that if the matters referred to were going on they certainly could not bo tolerated, but if they were going to send out a resolution saving that gambling was immoral ho would like to know where they were going to stop. Personally, he did not believe tnat gamolino- was altogether immoral. It was not immoral for a man to have a bet with a fellowman if he could afford to lose it. (The rev. gentleman gave an illustration., If there was systematised gambling going on, as they had just hoard for the fusttime, they should try to stop it. 1 eisonallv, he thought tho present methods m vogue for raising money were the meanest and most disgraceful to assist our_ soldiers ever introduced. Tho idea of hiiAing guis blacking boots and selling boxes ot matches for 3d, was a disgrace to tho community. He proceeded to point out that the arrangements made cost money, and tnat that money was not going to the soldiers. With reference to Mr Axelsen s ahusion to tho increase in juvenile crime, he thought that picture shows had done more harm than any extent ot gambling. 1 hey should certainly try to moderate any system ot gambling going on and keep it within bounds, but he thought it was too late now to send out a general condemnation of the people who were working m the k Lieutenant-colonel Stoneliam asked for information as to where the money spent on decorations and costumes, etc was coming from. If it was coming out of the money collected from the public for tho wounded that was entirely wrong. Mr Johnstone said that the Queen Cainival did not meet any expenditure in Die direction referred to He understood that the decorations were the gifts of the various firms who supplied them. The executive of tho association had sanctioned a general scheme, but it would never have been inaugurated if the citizens had done their dutv. They all knew how many appeals for assistance had been made time and again, and they know how badly those- appeals had been responded to. Tho fact remained that they had failed in their efforts to get a largo sum, and this present method seemed to be the only method that appealed successfully to the general public. i hat was the experience throughout New ZeaStoneliam expressed the hope that those statements would be made PI Mr C Mitoholl said it was unfortunate that the taste of the public ran in the direction of getting something for very little. The Rev Father Coffey directed attention to the cost of a procession through the streets, and said he understood that tiic decorations of motor ears, etc., had cost a largo sum, which had come out ot tho coi10ThoSRov. Mr Gray, niter some further discussion, agreed to eliminate a small portion of his motion, and to divide it into two the first part reading: ‘‘That this committee expresses its strong disapproval of tlic notorious jHirnolmy mctiiocls adopted hv some of the Queen Carnival Committees aiid requests the chairman of the. executive's sub-coinmittoc to give directions that such practices bo immediately discontinued.” Tho motion was carried. The Rev. Mr Gray then moved: “ The committee further expresses the opinion that every winner of a prize should decline

to receive any personal profit from such a fund as the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, but should return it to the committee for sale.” Dr Fulton suggested that it was too late to move a motion of the kind. Flo was of the opinion that it would stop the whole business. Mr Dcnniston suggested that the motion should be withdrawn, but Mr Gray could not see his way to agree to that, and on it being put it was agreed to.