Gambling Legislation.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 2, 13 July 1910, Page 5

Gambling Legislation.

The probable effect of this session’s gambling legislation is one of the most interesting subjects at present occupying the attention of members. Letters from all parts of the country are being showered upon members, and there seems to be an almost unanimous opinion amongst members that the bookmakers will have to go. In the Legislative Council on Thursday several members briefly referred to the subject, and an interjection by the Attorney-General (the Hon. Dr. Findlay) went to show that any proposal to abolish the bookmaker will receive his support. Mr. Newman’s Gaming Amendment and Bookmakers Abolition Bill was circulated last week. It is intituled “AnAct to Amend the Gaming Act of 1908.” Its chief provision is to repeal section 34 of the original Gaming Aet. The section in question at present enables committees of racing clubs to license bookmakers and collect fees for the issue of such licenses. With the repeal of this section it is proposed that all licenses now in force shall lapse and be of no effect. The nature of the amendment is intended to apply to horse racing, pony racing, racecourse betting, and other forms of sports, including football matches, shooting matches, and competitions. In the course of his remarks regarding the Address-in-Reply debate, Mr. F. W. Lang said he wanted to lodge his protest against the legalisation of the bookmaker when the last amendments were made to the Gaming Aet. Some of those most desirous of reform had enthused over the new legislation. His reply at the time had been that he could not understand how it was that anyone opposed to gambling should be satisfied to give the bookmaker a legal status. The totalisator was laid enough, but the bookmaker was worse. Mr. Poole: It is all bad. Mr. Lang: Yes, but the bookmaker represents the worse feature of gambling. One only needs to quote recent criminal cases in Auckland to force that home. It can at least be snid for the totalizator that when you put yonr money there you know what yon are doing; but. with the bookmaker, there is the risk of running up accounts and getting from bad to worse. I trust that this session Parliament will emphatically assert itself. Mr. T. E. Taylor fs another member who wants to see the bookmaker abolished, and the member for Christchurch North gives it as his opinion that the House wilt vote as one man for the extermination of the bookmaker.

be kept distinct from the South Auckland tinea, was replied to by the Hon. Mr. Millar last week. The Minister said that eectional accounts were ■discontinued many years ago. owing to the expense involved in keeping them. Since that time the railways of the Dominion had been greatly extended, and the accounting work had increased materially. To revert to a system of sectional accounts would, in these circumstances, involve the Department in an expense out of proportion to any benefits that might be received, and in these circumstances he could not authorise the employment of additional men with the consequent additional expense for the purposes of keeping separate accounts for the lines of the Northern districts. A Terrible Tragedy. A sensational and shocking tragedy, in which two lives were sacrificed, was enacted at the Mental Hospital at Avondale on Thursday afternoon, the victims being an inmate of the institution known as Mrs. Ellen M. Webster, and an exmilitary officer, Captain Herbert Jones, who was a nurseryman and wine manufacturer residing at Omaha. Jones had been visiting Mrs. Webster, and had been left talking with her in the corridor. The attention of the aeting-Mntron (Miss I iolet Campbell) was attracted by a noise in the corridor such as would be caused by a person falling heavily on the floor, and instantly rushing to tire scone, was almost horror-stricken to find Mrs. Webster stretched on the floor in violent convulsions with Jones in a kneeling posture' across her body, and also apparently shaking with agonising pains. The efforts made to prevent death were fruitless, both expiring in three or four minutes after the shocking deed had been discovered. The facts revealed in the course of further inquiry and sean.i showed pretty conclusively that Jones had prearranged the tragedy. Jones had in his possession a small rim-fire revolver, loaded in the six chambers, also a box of cartridges and a razor, and only fourpenee in money. There is reason to believe that the act was premeditated on Jones’ part, but tl>e woman had never displayed suicidal tendencies. Mrs. Webster was an accomplished woman, reported to be a descendant of an aristocratic family who were driven from France at the time of the French Revolution, and took refuge in England, and a sister of the wellknow Lionel. Terry, During the Boer war Mrs. Webster, it is said, followed an officer who had won her affections, but found nothing but disappointment awaiting her. It was in South Africa that she met Captain Jones and Ids wife, and a friend-hip sprang up, and ripened to such an extent that they all came out to New Zealand together. The Joneses lived at Omaha, ami Mrs. Webster was there till October last, when she was committed to the Avondale Mental Hospital from the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland. The story of how she lost her reason is most strange. One day She jrieked up a novel by one of the modern school which lingers over details which were formerly not thought quite suitable to print for publie perusal, and the story of the unfortunate heroine was almost identical with the life oi the woman who had picked up the volume to pass an idle hour away. Everything tallied to the smallest detail, even the visit to South Africa, and, in fact, the likeness was so startling that her mental balance was shattered, ami there was nothing for it but to have her committed to tlte Asylum. Captain Jones, who has 'been at Omaha for several years, had a vineyard there, and frequently paid visits to the Asylum to see Mrs Webster, bringing as often as not little presents for her. He was about sixty years of age, but did not look his years, in spite of his ■weather-beaten face, which bore evidences of the strenuous out door life he lived in the- army and after. He served in the Boer war, and instead of going back to the Old Country, decided to try life under new conditions in New Zealand, about which he heard so much from the New Zealanders whom lie met iu the campaign. He was married, and his wife is living at Omaha. They ha<l one child, boru about twenty years ago. Jones was always grateful for any kindness shown to Mrs Webster, and never forgot to show it. On one occasion explaining the great interest he took in Mrs Wehst »r, he told a person that her husband had Meserted her In New Zealand, and had since died. Mrs

ebster had three children— oae aged six, another three, and the youngest was a baby born about twelve’ mouths ago. These children were often brought to see their mother by Jones, and she seemed much attached to them. L Affaire Knyvett. As promised some time ago, the Government has included in the Defence Amendment Bill a clause setting up a board of appeal on dismissals, and thia will enable a rehearing of the Knyvett ease. The bill provides that the board shall consist of the Chief Justice (or a .judge of the Supreme Court), and two officers of a rank not lower than that of colonel. In order to deal with the affaire Knyvett, the machinery of this clause extends to dismissals during the 12 mouths preceding tlte |»issage of the Aet, as well as to subsequent dismissals. The Hon. Geo. Fowlds, speaking to a “ Star ” representative last week, said the clause in question was intended to •make possible a rehearing of the case of ex-Captain Knyvett on the lines indicated by him during his speech at Grey Lynn a few weeks ago. In connection with the inquiry into the charges levelled by Air Knyvett against Colonel* Robin, the Minister explains that no legislation will be required to make that possible, as the new commandant, on arrival in New Zealand, will have power to investigate those indictments.