THE GAMBLING EVIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13428, 9 July 1914, Page 3

THE GAMBLING EVIL.

TILT AT THE TOTALISATOR. (Special to Herald.) CHBISTCHUBCH, this day. A vigorous attack on the totalisator was made by the Rev. Dr. Erwin at the meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery. He introduced the subject by moving that the Presbytery should protest against the proposal that the Government should give more totalisator permits. He said that he. had watched the course of gambling m New Zealand, and was as confident as he could be that the totalisator was largely responsible for the spirit of gambling abroad amongst the people. In the early days of colonisation it would not have been thought proper for ladies to take part m gambling transactions, but now the totalisator had given gambling a kind of respectability, and ladies not only made their investments on the machine, but even m the tram cars talked of their ventures and their winnings. The takings of the machine were increasing by leaps and bounds. In spite of that a proposal had been made to the House 6i Representatives to' increase the number of permits, m order that the totalisator might be used by small racing clubs which would not be able to hold meetings at all if it was not for the revenue from the machine's operations. The proposal, if carried, would largely increase the opportunities for gambling. It would enable the evil to be more widely spread m. the community, and to give it a greater hold on the people. Anybody who kept his ears open, to the stories told m connection with gambling realised how the evil gripped those that came under its influence, and iow they became lost to the sense of responsibilities.

The Rev. J. MacKenzio seconded the motion. He said there was no doubt that the evil was increasing. A short time ago a friend of his, who for many years supported the totalisator, said that he could do so no longer, as it was responsible for a great deal of the increased gambling. No matter what views people held m regard to racing, they could not help a feeling J of alarm at the increasing of the gambling evil. The motion was carried.