The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1930. A PROTECTED OUTLAW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19118, 10 July 1930, Page 8

The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1930. A PROTECTED OUTLAW.

New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. Gloucester Street and Cathedral Square CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND. London Representative* i R. B. BRETT & SON

THE POOH-POOHING of Mr John Rowe’s statements regarding bookmakers is not likely to prove very convincing, especially under the cover of anonymity. The bookmakers have a Dominionwide organisation, backed by substantial funds, and are provided with telephones and telegraphic communication by the Government for the furtherance of a tremendous volume of betting business. It is hard to believe that one firm of bookmakers should have one hundred canvassers at work, unless the canvassing is limited to clients of the firm. We should welcome further enlightenment on this point from Mr Rowe, because his statement may have some bearing on the fact that the bookmakers have their ear to the ground regarding the possibility of securing legal recognition for their “ profession,” and have in fact attempted to sway public opinion in their direction. If Mr Forbes wishes to recover a huge slice of revenue that is now going past the totalisator into the hands of the bookmaking brotherhood, he could do so, first of all, by withdrawing telephonic and telegraphic services from these people, and in the second place by amending j,he Gaming laws to permit the publication of dividends and the telegraphing of money to the totalisator. BRIGHTER SUNDAYS. CONSERVATIVE FORCES in the Church take their last stand amongst the die-hard Sabbatarians; but when elders begin to quote their young days, they weaken their argument for the observation of the letter of the Fourth Commandment, instead of strengthening it. Mr L. Dewar, in restraining the natural expression of good spirits, if we may use the word, is putting new wine into old bottles. He did not whistle or cut a stick on Sunday when he was a boy. That then was a matter for his conscience; but though such things w'ere agreed on thirty or fifty years ago they would be almost unanimously laughed out of court to-dav. The brighter Sunday has brought a healthier outlook in things both spiritual and physical. INSURANCE AGAINST DISEASE. ' V 'HE “ STAR ” has no liking for street collections, but it can earnestly commend to-morrow’s collection for the Cancer Campaign Fund to the sympathetic consideration of the public. The death rate from cancer is a sinister thing. It threatens the happiness of individuals and of families in a most distressing manner, because of tlje suffering that the disease causes in all cases where its diagnosis comes too late to effect a cure. Even to-day nobody dare say that cancer is curable except in the early stages, but wonderful work is being done with radium in actual cures, and research work, happily, goes forward with the alleviation of pain. Anything that the public can do to assist the medical men in their fight against this disease ought to be regarded as a form of life insurance that will pay a sure and certain dividend. LOANS FOR ROADS. The progress league is moving crabwise in regard to roading. It is still talking about political action, instead of getting down to economic realities. Eighteen months ago a proposal was submitted to it for the more rapid construction of highways, from Picton to the Bluff, by the raising of a loan on the security of South Island motor revenues. The scheme was sound then, and it is more attractive than ever to-day. It gets over the difficulties created by a diversity of interests and opinions among county ratepayers; it averts the ever-present danger of a diversion of South Island revenues to the more enterprising North Island, and it eliminates the waste of piece-meal construction. Its adoption might even deprive the Government of a case for increas ing the petrol duty.