METHODS OF GAMBLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1931, Page 6

METHODS OF GAMBLING.

The recent “raid” upon bookmakers in various Taranaki centres has had the usual result. It has been found that the businass of bookmaking is proceeding as steadily s as ever, and that the public are willing to support a system of gambling which has been declared illicit. Heavy fines have been inflicted upon those who have been convicted of bookmaking, and while the law remains as it is there is no course open to the Courts but to treat such offences as serious. The ethics of gambling and the attitude of the taxing authorities are not matters for the Bench. Publicity in regard to them and to the attitude of any Ministry in, regard to certain forms of gambling may be useful as indicating public opinion, and demonstrating whether there is not a serious drift which should be arrested. As a matter of fact, there are many who conscientiously believe that the spirit of gambling is permeating the community to an extent that is alarming. Nor is this view, confined to the class that is known as “wowser.” Others are just as fully convinced that the instinct to take a chance is inherent to human nature, and that the industrial system is .moved by what might be termed a gamble upon results that may be obtained or lost. They claim that it is this uncertainty that gives zest to hard work and to existence. But this, after all, is beside the question of the difference between legal and illegal betting in this country. The law says that an action which is permissible if performed in one way is illegal if performed in amother way, and at once a difficulty is created. Many of the people who see no harm in gambling also fail to detect any special evil in betting with bookmakers. These people wish to bet, and they are not content with the facilities afforded by the legalised totalisator. They seek other means of making their wagers, and it is surely the most natural thing in the world that there should be men, and even women, willing to accommodate them. If everyone believed that betting was ethically wrong unless it was carried on through the totalisator there would be no customers for the bookmakers, but those who are customers hold that no question of ethics is involved. The result is a certain amount of resentment against a law which is regarded as an arbitrary interference with personal liberty, and the law is disregarded and brought into disrepute. Every now and then a raid is made on the bookmakers, and in some cases those who bet with them are also apprehended, but it is evident that this deterrent is quite insufficient. In these circumstances it is to be regretted that Parliament has never been willing to give this question the attention it deserves. A Bill to authorise bookmaking was before members last session, but was allowed to drop. The new Parliament would do well to tackle the question and come to a decision. If the logical course is followed bookmaking

will be allowed under certain conditions, and the result will be the elimination of the evil features undoubtedly associated with its illegal practice. If Parliament is not willing to countenance the bookmaker, then it should devise means to ensure observance of the law.