GAMING BILL

Southland Times, Issue 20219, 2 July 1927, Page 7

GAMING BILL

PROTEST FROM CHURCHES. (Per United Press Association.) July 1. At a meeting of the Executive of the Council of Christian Congregations to-day, Dr. E. N. Merrington moved the following resolution which was earned unanimously: —That this executive voices a strong and emphatic protest against the Gaming Amendment Bill which has been introduced in Parliament by Sir George Hunter, the aims of which are to facilitate and thus greatly encourage and increase gambling in the Dominion by, (1) Allowing totalisator investments to be telegraphed to club secretaries; (2) Removing restrictions on • the publication of dividends in connection with such forms of gambling through the totalisator; (3) Removing prohibition which at present exists against the use of the “double totalisator.”

The effect of these proposals if carried into law will be to intensify the gambling evil which already has secured a tragic and damaging grip upon the life of the community and that copies of the above resolution be forwarded to the Press and local M.’s P. with a view to expressing the strongest opposition possible to this measure as one that is reactionary and detrimental to every interest of true citizenship. PROTEST FROM TIMARU. Timaru, July 1. A meeting of the Timaru Ministers’ Association, representative of Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist Churches and the Y.M.C.A. unanimously resolved that a strong protest be issued against putting into law, the Gaming Amencjment Bill on the ground that from all the available evidence, including that of racing men, the removal of the restrictions suggested would materially increase gambling.