SPREAD OF GAMBLING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19800, 18 November 1919, Page 10

SPREAD OF GAMBLING.

DISCUSSED BY COUNCIt OF CHURCHES.

The large increase in the amount of money which passed through the totalisator at the racing and trotting meetings last week was commented upon at last night’s meeting of the Council of Churches, and it was decided to submit questions to candidates for Parliament asking l whether they would give support to proposals for checking the spread of gambling. The Rev J. J. .North urged the extreme importance of doing something in the direction of regulating the enormous spread of gambling. He said that the gambling in Christchurch last week totalled as ’ much as it did for the whole Dominion a few years ago. The money put through the totalisator represented a 76 per cent increase on the amount put through last year, and it was time for the community to ask itself whether these things were right. For the same week in 1918 the amount put through the totalisator was £270,000 and last week the amount was £478,000, an enormous increase which he thought was sufficient to take anyone’s breath away. One factor which ho thought tended to encourage gambling was the unholy habit which the newspapers had of quoting • in figures the amount put through the totalisator as though it was something to be proud of, and he expressed the opinion that »the newspapers required to be sharply rebuked. •‘‘lt was a sheer unprincipled gamble l«t week by the people to the extent of nearly half a million pounds, and there are hardly any tradesmen in the city who did not suffer through last week’s proceedings,” said Mr North. “Ask

your milkman, grocht or baker and most of them will tell yen that the payment of their accofifils i(i very distinctly retarded whenever a race meeting comes round;” Mr North expressed the opinion that the deterioration in character through gambling was verv appalling and lie had been told, that the crowd when they entered the gates of the racecourse and got near the totalisator seemed to lose all sense of morality and indulged in turf gossip which they would be ashamed ef elsewhere. There was a. goal deal in what Sir George Clifford had said when he remarked that things in the racing world wore nob always clean. Mr North expressed bis conviction that the bookmakers were supported by the Government. He mentioned the names of the five largest bookmakers in Christchurch and said that there were in addition a great many other smaller men plj'ing their calling in the city. These bookmakers used other men as dummies for the purpose of receiving correspondence and telegrams, and this was done with the connivance of the Post Office. The speaker mentioned the names of several men who, he said, acted as dummies tor bookmakers in 'Christchurch and who received correspondence for them. Every operation in the bookmaker’s business was illegal, but the Government assisted them by carrying to their doors information regarding their transactions. The telegrams were not in cypher but in plain words, and the amount, of money to be put on the horse was clearly stated. The moment that amount was enteral into a book it became a crime, hut the Government aided and abetted the crime by assisting the bookmakers to commit it. He was thoroughly of the opinion that the only motive of the amendment to the Post Office Act, making it a penal, offence to enter a wrong time on a telegram, was to protect the bookmakers from being defrauded. The Government had said that it was only legal to bet on the totali sator, yet in Christchnrcn mere «ere

Hvo large firms of bookmakers operating by means of double and single bolting and an unknown amount of money passed through their hands. He was positive that the demoralising effect of betting was very serious indeed, and something must bo done to check it. The racing clubs had brought cut proposals for the abolition of the bookmaker, but their proposals were, rank hypocrisy. The clubs said that with the double totalisator they would' annihilate the bookmaker, and if they gave permission to the clubs to icceive money on the totalisator by telegram that would complete his execution entirely. The speaker did not think the proposals would do anything but to greatly increase the amount of gamuGng. The bookmakers could still cany on and mu their double cards even if the totalisator was in opposition to them. By making it legal to telegraph money direct to the. totalisator, the Government would bo providing the people with an opportunity for gambling practically every day of the year. One tiling which they must fight against most determinedly was the granting of such a privilege to racing clubs. The suggestions mado by the racing clubs tor the suppression of the bookmaker were misleading and utterly useless. He did, however, believe that some good could be obtained by submitting questions, to candidates for Parliament and lie moved the following resolution:—“ That all candidates for Parliament be asked : (1) Whether in view of the phenomenal increase of gambling through the totalisator you will resist proposals for any enlargement of totalisator opportunity? (2) Whether you will support legislation for the suppression of hookmaking, specially by making bookmaking an illegal calling and by making the use of telegraphic and telephonic and jiostal services for gambling transactions illegal?” It was, he said, impossible at present to do anything effective against the totalisator but they could help to abolish the bookmaker.

Mr Morley Palmer stressed tie evil of betting by telegram which, be said, often led to young men embezzling tie funds of their employers. Mr J. Hammett hoped no minister would ever preach a sermon that tie world was getting better, that sin was getting less or that the devil had less sway than he had before. The Rev S. Lowry said it was no use simply attacking the things that were evil unless they,dealt with it.from an ethical point of view. Ho was convinced that the great number of people who went 1o the.races and gambled, did not understand, the ethics of the position hut were simply looking for excitement. He suggested that' the young people growing tip should be instructed in the economic and moral evils of gambling. Hie Rev Mr Hooper expressed regret at the manner jj) which horse racing had degenerated into gambling contests. Mr S. R. In gold said that if gambling was an evil, then it was surely much worse for gambling to ho 'allowed through a machine than through a man. His great objection was to State control of gambling. The Rev ■). Paterson said that he thought, it appalling that for a whole week, the oily should ho given over to gambling. He came from Australia which was supposed to ho the land of sport, but (here was one big difference, the races did not interfere with the rest of the community. He deplored the legalising of art unionsThe motion was carried 'unanimously.