PUBLIC MORALS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18551, 10 November 1934, Page 3

PUBLIC MORALS

THE EVILS OF GAMBLING RESTRICTIONS URGED (Pur Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. The public ijtiestions committee report was presented to the Presbyterian General Assembly yesterday by the Rev. F. H. Wilkinson. Regret was expressed that the Government Was not alive to the menace of gambling. A film committee was working in Wellington, and efforts were being made to support a better class of films. The matter of freedom of speech was one. to be safeguarded vigilantly, as to prevent freedom was to turn the spirit of change into the spirit of revolt. It was dangerous to prevent those with grievances from uttering them. New ways of looking at major problems were necessary* to progress. The Rev. D, M. Martin spoke of a

petition in process of signature asking for fuller rights for discussion of'matte's' over the radio. 1( was agreed to urge presbyteries to safeguard the rights of freedom of speech. The ReV. .T. R. Blanchard moved unswerving opposition to nity "proposal calculated to spread ahd intensify the gambling spirit, and to exhort all mem-, hers to cultivate the Christian principle of stewardship of money in order that the spirit of gambling might pass from tin- hearts of men. Th? Rev. J. T>. Smith spoke of tlm •publication of the winning of huge sums in overseas lotteries, and held that this was illegal. He spoke, also of bookmakers using the telegraph, probably by means of ,a code, and asked why it was not stopped by the Government.