ASSEMBLY CONCERNED

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 October 1946, Page 4

ASSEMBLY CONCERNED

“MENACE OF GAMBLING” EVIDENCE FOR COMMISSION “Gambling: is a growing menace in New Zealand, but we must search our own hearts. 1 think we have all been associated with bazaars and sales of work, and have tolerated some element of gambling, but now is (he time to east it out.” declared the Rev. r. G. Hughes (Wellington), moving at the General Assembly ot the Presbyterian Church in Wanganui last night that (he following clause in the Public Questions Committee’s report be adopted.” “That the assembly declare that gambling in all Rs forms is morally wrong and calls on ministers and sessions to make clear to our people the nature of the evil. That the assembly, in view of the growing menace of organised gambling in New Zealand, declares that the State, owing to the social evils resulting from gambling, has the responsibility of imposing the maximum restriction on facilities for organised gambling. That the assembly give wholehearted support to the steps taken by the committee to bring about the co-operatior, of the Churches in preparing the case against the extension of facilities for gambling before the Gaming Commission. Immediately it became known that the Government had set up a Royal Commission on Gaming and Racing under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Finlay, the Public Questions Committee appointed a sub-committee to make preliminary investigations and to prepare an outline of the case to be presented to the Commission. Meanwhile the Inter-Church Council was approached, and when the sub-com-mittee submitted its report, it was circulated among the members of the council. A conference was summoned to discuss the situation, taking as its basis the report of our sub-committee, stated the Public Questions Committee in its report.

“The conference revealed such substantial unanimity of purpose that further steps were taken. As, however, the representatives of the Roman Catholic Church were unable to associate themselves fully with the movement, it could not be sponsored officially by the Inter-Church Council. A conference of the non-Roman churches was called. Mr. J. R. Marshall was appointed secretary, and was asked to prepare a draft statement of the case to be presented to the commission. If the commission decides to hear counsel, Mr. Marshall will be one of the two who will represent the churches,

“The work of outlining the various sections of the case which is to be presented to the commission has been entrusted to groups ot capable and representative men in different parts of the Dominion. Their work will be co-ordinated by the Central Committee. The commission is to present its report and findings by March 31, 1947, but the date on which the commission opens has not yet been fixed.

“The committee feels that there should be keen searching of heart by the whole church, for the evil of gambling has become deeply entrenched in our country and threatens to extend. The church itself should cease to encourage or condone anything in the nature of gambling in connection with the raising of funds and should oppose the practice, which is all too common ampng those who raise funds for community purposes, of trading on the impulse to gamble. The committee feels that presbyteries, and particularly the youth department, should take steps to educate our people, and to make them alive to the menace of this growing evil. The report was adopted.