THE GAMBLING EVIL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13487, 30 July 1907, Page 7

THE GAMBLING EVIL.

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, July 30.

A deputation of citizens, clergymen, members of Parliament, and others interested in the gambling question waited on the Premier to-day with a re.quest for the imposition of further legislative restrictions on what was represented to bo the growing great evil of all the principal cities.

The Premier, in reply, said last year's Bill tried to give effect to what he thought was a tremendous advance and included several very important reforms. It did away with street betting and made betting by minors almost impossible, and it limited betting to racecourses. If they got legislation of that sort on the Statute Book it would be a tremendous advance, and it was as much as they expected to get there. As to the abolition of the totalisator, the deputation must recognise it was not possible to get such a proposal through Parliament; and in any case, he asked was it desirable to defer legislation of a general description until it was possible? It was not desirable. He was anxious to do all in his power to meet the wishes of the deputation, but he recognised that< a large section of the community looked upon race meetings as part and parcel of the system which they supported and believed in. Personally he did not see any harm in a race meeting, if it u - ere carried out properly. He thought the system of double betting should be stopped. Provision for doing so would be included in a Bill already drafted.