EFFECTS OF THE GAMING ACT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9701, 4 November 1909, Page 3

EFFECTS OF THE GAMING ACT.

The police reporr for the year ended olst March. IHO9, which is compiled by the commissioner, Mr Diunie. ami was presented to Parliament on Tuesday, contains some interesting observations on the results of tbe amendment to the Gaining Act of 1907. One of tlip principal classes of crime in which a striking increase for the year was shown is burglary, the actual increase being 12(5 cases as against the previous year, and in theft, where an mcrea.se of 22H cases, as against the previous year is reported. '"These increases," the commissioner says, "have resulted partly through the iutlux to the Dominion of an unusual number of Australian criminals, and [ ascribe this in a degree to the licen.-iug of bookmakers and the indiscriminate granting ot betting licenses by racing authorities, which has induced a number of Australian undesirables to become bookmakers, who, with their followers, when not engaged in bookmaking, resort to crime. Juvenile offenders are, I regret to s.iy, responsible for many of these offences.''

Under the heading of " Gaming offences" 2V6 preseentions and IS4 convictions were recorded during the year against l'.):j prosecutions and li'l convictions for the previous twelve months. To these statistics Mr Diunie adds the following note :—" The provisions of the Gaming Act as regards betting-houses, street betting, restrictions en betting telegrams, betting advertisements, and use of totalisator are eminently satisfactory; but, having regard to the licensing ot bookmaEers and the indiscriminate action of racing authorities in issuing betting licenses to all applicants in a position to pay the necessary fee, irrespective altogether of character or fitness to hold a license, the result has been quite contrary to that intended.

" .bookmakers and their tollowers have seriously increased, the majority of them being totally unfit both pecuniarily and otherwise to hold licenses. '■If bookmakers are to be licensed to bet at race meetings (a provision which from a long and varied experience of racing I could not support) the law should provide that none but those holding a certificate of fitness from a Magistrate (on the report of police) or chief of police of the district concerned should be licensed. Nor should any one be permitted to act as a bookmaker at any race meeting whatsoever uuloss he holds such certificate.

A full report on the working of the Gaming Act, with suggestions for amendments, has, lie adds, already been submitted for consideration.