GAMBLING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 9 November 1907, Page 3

GAMBLING IN NEW ZEALAND.

AX E.NULISH OPINION. It is always interesting to know what is thought of us by English observers, and tins is our reason for reprinting the lollowing editorial from tin' Manchester Uuardian, of September 10 last. "Tlic Premier of New Zealand," says the Guardian, "is contemplating new anti-betting legislation. liu lias liu hope of l.eing able to abolisli the totalisator. Inil he thinks he call get Parliament to eouliue betting to the course, prohibit the dissemination by telegraph of lacing news, .t.iul suppress doubleevent betting. 'there is very little doubt that, however the totalisator luay add to the amenities of rating, it encourages, betting. The mere fact that it puts 'wishing' out of the question is an inducement to the small 'speculator' to gamble. Indeed, its great vice is its respectability, it a respectable relations with charity and tile Slate not excluded. Perhaps that helps to explain the impossibility of abolishing it in New Zealand. In France the totalisator lias a turnover of ten millions a year, 01 which the State appropriates 7 per cent; if tile business done in New /calami bears comparison with this it must, be a pretty considerable vested interest. Xo doubt there are other difficulties; betting seems to have got evo'i more thoroughly into the blood of English colonists than into the blood of Englishmen themselves, and the process of eradicating the vice will be long an 1 ilillieiilt. legislation can hardly do more than tackle the machinery of betting; the moral problem, save in so far as its machinery is rendered easier bv putting dilliculties in the way of betting, must be deull witli by other agents. New Zealand is evidently not ripe f<>( I lie banning of betting everywhere in all forms: that being so. its confine, inent to the course may do some gool. though a good deal less in a country like New Zealand, where everybody "onto rn»es. than in England. The denial of tile telegraph for the circulation of betting news is likewise of some utility, thou,ill difficult to execute; still more lisehil would be the direct prohibition of its pnblientinn. TVit presumably such a step would be in advance of public opinion. One is always brought back to Unit supreme difficulty of legislating against Jumbling that through the evii manifest | n n ll. the will of tin- majority , which is itself free from taint." JIATEPKAI, PUTT®. < The lady drew her arms from under ' her apron. I "M.v son's in business," she Said; n "'e stops at the best hotels and every- ' thing." f "Ho!" said the friendly ncighlnrf ' "and what is V—commercial travel- ' ler?" f "Commercial traveller!—no; 'e's a n poatman," h