PUBLIC OPINION

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18452, 1 May 1928, Page 8

PUBLIC OPINION

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING

“ Blue Laws ” and Euchre Parties. New Zealand is not a blue-law ” community, though we certainly have some “ blue-laws ” upon our Statute Book. These, we are sure, do not meet with the general approval of the people; but they have been enacted •without full knowledge of their purport or effect. Now there is difficulty in repealing or modifying them, because a minority, by determined use of the “ stonewall,” can resist such action unless it is prosecuted with equal vigour on the other side. Thus we have licensing and gaming laws perpetuated which the majority of the people do not favour. One of these laws is that which forbids euchre and whist tournaments. The law was not framed to do this; but a Supreme Court decision shows that it does it. So the tournaments and drives promoted by various organisations for public purposes must be stopped. We are certain that public opinion does not go this far in making the law the custodian of private morals. If it did it would be only logical to extend the prohibition to private bridge parties, and to appoint an army of official visitors to see that points taken above or below the line were not afterwards made the basis of a cash settlement. That would be intolerable, and impossible, 100. But if the law is not carried this far it is unfair to keep it at the present point, and to say, in effect, that it is a crime not to possess a house big enough for the holding of card Organised games of chance for private gain may well be forbidden; but the law should stop at this, and allow the individual to decide for himself whether it is immoral to play euchre for a prize or bridge for threepence a hundred. Yet how is the law to be modified? A telegram from Christchurch states that there is little likelihood of the Government acting, because it would have to throw the whole Gaming Act open for discussion; and, therefore, a private member may have to introduce a special amendment. We would muen prefer to see the Government' face the position openly and honestly, declare that it will not attempt to legislate on private morality, and submit legislation in line with this declaration. —“ Post,” Wellington.