ABOLITION OF THE TOTALISATOR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1856, 1 June 1888, Page 3

ABOLITION OF THE TOTALISATOR.

At noon to day a deputation consisting of the Revs Besttie, Bottle, and Scott representing the Presbyterian, Wesleyan and Episcopalian congregations respectively, waited upon His Worship the Mayor m regard to the action whloh should bo taken towards to the abolition of the totalisator. Thß deputation urged that Btepa should be taken locally to get signatures to a petition i'or its total suppression. His Worship expressed hijQself as being m favor of restricting the use of the totalisator and if necessary taxing it for revenne purposes IE gambling on raoeoouraes could be abolished with the suppression of the totalizator, Hid Worship would be inclined to support the of the deputation, but seeing that doing away with the totaliaator would opan the doors to wholesale betting with bookmakers, whose transactions might be large or small without and the publio being Informed of their extant, he believed that the evils of gambling would not be m any way mitigated should the views of the opponents of thg machine be given effect to, After same consultation it was deemed advisable to write to Ohriotohucoh for copies of the petition and have them circulated for signature,. The desirability of holding a publio meeting was disouaaed but the deputation were of opinion that itsetfeot would not be stronger than that of numerously signed petitions. We many mention that several are already lying m business houses for signature, and may have attached their signatures thereto. It is probable that more publio interest will be imported into the question and the deputation to the Mayor may bo taken as the first sign of the agitation agatn&t the totalisator m Ashbutton. The following resolution was unanimoaely adopted at a meeting of the Vestry of St Stephen's Church, held on Thursday evening : — "That thia Vestry cordially approves the attempt now being made to obtain from the General Assembly |of New Zealand, a Bill for the suppression of the totalisator, and m view thereof, requests the Inoumbent to invite the congregation of St. Stephen's to affix their signatures to the petition now being olroulated by the Ohristchuroh City Counoll, and to adopt. Booh other means as may enaare a general aupport of the movement,"