Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] MONDAY, JULY 25, 1910. THE GAMBLING DEBATE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9736, 25 July 1910, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] MONDAY, JULY 25, 1910. THE GAMBLING DEBATE.

What tho majority of the House of Representatives thought of the bookmaker may bo seen from the division in which the majority against him bulked no loss than sixty-nine. His friends were four, two of them Minis ters, au Auoklaurier, aurl the Major of Wellington. It is unfortunate that two Ministers should have figured in the minority, and so small a minority. But they appeared at the opening of the "bookies' " club, and the smallness of the minority at any rate makes it clear that such a thing is not likely to happen again. The debate covered some strange ground. There was no need for losing sight of the main issue, however, which was that the Legislature, having made an experiment for the purpose of reducing gambling throughout the Dominion, had discovered itself to have largely increased tho same ; and that under the circumstances the best thing to be done was to retrace the step. Whether the bookmaker is or is not honest is a question irrelevant. As a matter of fact seventy per cent, of him is preeminently dishonest, as the Premier showed during the debate by quoting the statement of a "well-known" police officer. The issue, however, is independent of the question of the fitness of the bookmaker. It turns on the fact that his presence on the course gives gambling wider vogue. That being the case, the seventy per cent, of the fraternity that is bad naturally weighs him down all the lower in the scale. Neither does it boot to denounce tho racing clubs for deliberately permitting the bookmaker to get in, no matter what his character. As a matter of fact some clubs did wink the other eye rather much. But it was really a difficult position for the clubs. Many of them did ask the police for information, and some of them acted accordingly. But tne best of bookmakers with the best of characters have proved unsuitable. It was known well enough that the presence of the bookmaKer on the course must increase gambling there. But it was hoped that there would be compensation in tho diminished area of his prowling. There is the disap. pointment I The bookmaker plies his calling more thau ever everywhere, regardless entirely of the tact that he was expected in return for the favour of admission to the racecourse, to deny himself elsewhere. That hopa lias been proved groundless.

It was proposed by the friends oi

the bookmaker and by some of his enemies that man and the machine should stand together. In this respect Mr T. E. Taylor found himself playing the gamo of the "bookie" with a fervour worthy of a better cause. This sort of combination had a narrow escape. Unworthy as anything possible in the way of compacts, it failed to repeat the success of 1907. Wβ have not forgotten that the unworthiuess of l!) 0? forced the legalisation of the "bookie" on to the statute book, in

forcing that off the statute book the House did not forget that it had once more to deal with au evil combination. That combination therefore failed. But it would bo a mistake to conclude that therefore the instrument is safe. The iustrument is not safe. The majority was ouly eight; and among those eight were many who voted because they would not play the game of the ''bookie. " They recognised that the "bookie" can show no reason of any kind that will hold water why he should be bracketed with the machine. Therefore, they would not consent to the mixing up of the two. But wlian the issue comes before them straight of the machine on its merits, they will vote against the machine becauso it, too, lias increased gambling. Their present vote shows that they regard the machino as a better gambling institution fchau the man—giving no credit, doing no mischief, offering no temptations to anyone. Keduce the question to one of gambling, aud the machine cannot escape abolition. For this reason we advise all who depend on the machine for the future profits of racing to realise that the time of the machine is short. The majority of eight and the reasons for its action, aro tho writing on the wall. The Jockey Olubs can now fulfil tneir engagements for the year. They are sure also to be reduced by anything between fifty aud twenty-five uer cent, of the number of their present meetings. After next election it would not bo surprising to see them high and dry, without a machine to their name. Tho friends of the machine have to be thankful that they are given time for settling their affairs before the day of final extinction. Tho next difficulty will bo to stop the secret gambling. But that is another story. .Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. To-morrow's evil need uot prevent us from dealing with today's.