GAMBLING AND FILMS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1934, Page 7

GAMBLING AND FILMS

PROTESTS BY PRESBYTERIANS. RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. The public questions committee report presented to the Presbyterian Assembly to-day by the Rev. F. H. Wilkinson expressed regret that the Government was not alive to the menace of gambling and films. A committee was working at Wellington and efforts were being made to support a better class of film. “The matter of freedom of speech is one to be safeguarded vigilantly,” added the report. “To prevent it is to turn spirit of change into a spirit of revolt. It is dangerous to prevent those with grievances from uttering them. New ways of looking at major problems are necessary to progress.” The Rev. D. M. Martin spoke of a petition in process of signature asking for fuller rights for discussion of matters over the radio. A North Auckland speaker mentioned the restrictions on civil servants. It was agreed to urge presbyteries to safeguard the rights of freedom of gpgccli* The Rev. J. R. Blanchard moved unswerving opposition to any proposal calculated'to spread and intensify the gambling spirit and exhorted all members to cultivate the Christian principle of the stewardship of money that the spirit of gambling may pass from the hearts of men. The Rev. J. D. Smith spoke of the 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. Why .was it not stopped by the Government?