“A SERIOUS ALLEGATION”

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6438, 15 January 1924, Page 5

“A SERIOUS ALLEGATION”

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Your correspondent “Citizen” writing on. the subject of “bookmaking and gambling in Whitaker street” asks why the Religious Bodies, Borough Council, Police Force and Chamber of Commerce are doing nothing about it. As I am connected with some of the bodies enumerated I will endeavour to answer his question. Are the Religions Bodies unaware of the practice? The duties of the Religious Bodies is to teach, advise, admonish and to set an example. These I believe they do. It is net theirs to prevent or punish. Has the Borough Council no knowledge of it? ; The Borough Council has no authority to stop the alleged practice. Is. the Chamber of Commerce too much occupied to offer any advice ?-. I have reason to know that members of this body are individually as anxious as “Citizen” to put down any and every evil but such is not one of the objects of the Chamber as such. “Why is it that I, a mere citizen, discovered an illegal practice taking place and yet the Detective Force remains ignorant?” Why is it, “Citizen”? Speak up. Why have you not put . them wise'? I know that they haYe 'been looking for a man with your inside information. I know that if you.paid a visit to the little office in Rewi street you would be welcomed like a long lost brother You, “Citizen,*' say that you have discovered an evil practice taking place. What are you going to do about-dit ? You trust other right, thinking citizens will ex 7 press their views on the subject. What good will that do? What is wanted of right minded citizens is that tljey will act, ..not “Leave it tp. George.” The cure of the evil rests entirely in your hands, “Citizen.”. The one thing needed is that you do your duty, supply the evidence that you claim to have, and so prove your right to the name over which you v: lie.—l am, etc., . ' "■ OUR JOCK.

(To the Editor.)

Sir—l agree with “Citizen” that the gambling evil in Te Aroha is not a ghost story but a very stern reality. We cannot fully sympathise with him until we know his full views on the subject. Is “Citizen” against the bookie only, or does he consider all betting to be morally wrong. Although against the law, bookieing appears more honest'-than the totalisator. Many religionists like their few “bob on” within the law. These gentlemen have no ■ love for their weaker brother, who has the gambling spirit in his blood, and goes the

“whole thing I .”' There are two ways of dealing with the evil of gambling. We must either get the evil doers convicted by law and put away from among us, or else get them converted from their evil habits. The first mentioned is the duty of the Police. If “Citizen” would join the, force he might find that the local members could tell him more than he knew, and he would wake up to the fact that it is one thing to know a truth and another thing to prove it. If “Citizen” does not fancy the Force he might take up work in one of the i religious bodies. He would then find .that it is even harder to get men converted than it is to convict them. We would be pleased if a barbed-wire fence were placed round the evil, doers, for the sake of the younger men who are being' corrupted by them. “Joy Bells” would have a hard job to prove that gambling is sport. On the other hand gambling lias prostituted all true sport. “Joy Bells” shows his hand too plain. One could "find his horse after dark, still he need, not worry, for neither the police nor anyone else is troubled about the “little asses,” but the sharks which feed on them —I am, etc., / " v t

SYMPATHY.