The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1894.

Waikato Times, Volume XLII, Issue 3391, 24 March 1894, Page 8

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1894.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

All the Australasian colonies, with the exception of Queensland, prohibit the conduct of racing sweeps within their borders. This matter came under discussion at the Postal Conference. The fact was called attention to that prohibitory legislation existed in that colony but was not enforced consequent on a resolution of Parliament. In consequence all the sweep promoters have removed their headquarters to Brisbane, and the postal revenue of that colony is no doubt benefitted to a considerable extent. Large sums of money are remitted principally by means of post office orders; this adds to the revenue of both the colony in which the order is issued and to that in which it is made payable. Mr Ward explained that hid Government could not refuse to transmit letters or to issue money orders payable in another colony. It was agreed that representations should be made to Queenaland asking that the law already in existence prohibiting this species of gambling shall be enforced. If Queensland complies, in the absence of legislation, this colony would be in precisely the same position as she / stands in now. The promoters would again move their head quarters to a country where their proceedings are not illegal, and the postal Authorities would be powerless to check the outflow of money by means of the postal organisation. Were the issue of orders made discretionary, other means would be speedily found by those; desirous of subscribing to get their money to its destination. No power would be granted to open closed,envelopes, so that the circulars, which are the real incentives'to, gambling would be delivered from door to door as at present. We question very much whether the prohibition of sweeps in the various colonies has lessened by a single pound the amount expended in them annually. . The business has been concentrated in fewer hands, and in consequence larger prizes have been possible and the temptation to invest proportionately increased. The money is sent;to these men in blind faith, the only security that the senders have that they'will receive fair treatment consists in; the fact that the business is too good a one to be ruined by allowing the, jaintest rumour of dishonesty to get wind. The reason for prohibiting sweeps is to lessen the thirst for gambling by destroying one of trie modes of indulgence. This has, as yet, proved impracticable, and so far as we can judge it will always remain so, at any rate so long as sweeps are not prevented in.' every country having postal communication. As regards this colony we have strained <4 a gnat and swallowed a camel. We have not only legalised the totalisator, but are deriving revenue by its manipulation on every racecourse in.the country. The avowed reason of its initiation was to protect the public against the wiles of the bookmakers. Its legalisation was a recognition of the fact that many men and for that matter many women also, will bet on horse races. If it was right to protect speculators in one form, surely it is equally so to guard against their being swindled wholesale in another. We quite recognise the evil results of gambling, and would suggest if we

were able a means of rendering indulgence in it impossible. In the absence of this ability, and in view of the fact that the abolition of sweeps in this colony has not lessened to an appreciable degree the amount of money annually risked, we are reduced to the opinion that it would be better to remove the re-

atriction, and at the same tune ensure that sweeps shall be conducted on a fair basis, by placing the conductors under strict regulation?. We do not use the argument that this would prevent money leaving the country, for, presuming that they are fairly conducted in other countries, the chances are that as much monoy will come back as goes away, less of course the commission charged by the promoters.