GAMING LAWS INQUIRY

Chronicle (Levin), 5 February 1947, Page 4

GAMING LAWS INQUIRY

-Press Association

CoRimission Holds Its First Public Sitting counsel outune cases

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Feb. 5. The Royal Commission inquiring into the gaming laws met this morning at Parliament HOhse fpi* its,. first public sitting./ After six counsel had announced their appeararices and made tentati/e arrangements for presenting their submissions at a later date, the commission adjourned until. M^rch 4. , The commissioners are Mr. JfiBtice Finlay (chairman) , Mr. W. ' H. Freeman, S.M., and Mr. J. W. Ileenan, Under - Seeretary of lntsrnal Affairs. Counsel who appeared this morning were Mr.- E. D. Blunddl with Mr. H. R. C. Wild, both of Wellington, for the Racing; Conf erence, and to be joined later by Mr. A. T. Donnelly, of Chirstchurch; Mr. C.

S. Thomas, of Christchurch, for the Trotting 'Conference; Mr. W. ,E. Leicester, of Wellington, to be oined later by Mr. T. F. McCarthy, for the Dominion Sportsmen's Association; and Dr. O. C. Mazengarb, with Mr. J. R. Marshall, for the -Associated Churches.: ■ . . Dri Mazengarb 'said the r.hurches he represented were the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, Church of Christ, Salva • fcion Army and Society of Friends. He understood that other rcligiou3 oodies would make separate representations not inconsistent with the case he represented. Mr. Leicester said he would present a case for the legalisation of off-the-course betting, anci at a later stage would like to be heard for the Levin Racing Club on the question of an extra day, The chairman, looking toward ihe dozen «or so members of thc public present, asked whether anyone among them wished to address the commission. One of them, Mr. T. Ponovon, asked if the public would b* givefi a full opportunity later to present ihe matrer to the commission, and was assured Ihat everv opportunity would .be gained. Case for Churches Outlining the case he wou.d present foi the churches. Dr. Mazengarb said: "We desire to see thie existing law maintained and in certain respects enforced. We will :ecist any attempt to make legal those methods of gambling which are ac present illegal." The chairman; "Does that meen >our clients are prepared to accept a report which does not extend the present faciiities." "Yes," replied Dr. Mazengarb, v/ho added that they desired to ooint out where the law was not. at present being enforces and suggest how it could be enforced to give effect to the ideals that legislation had hacl in mind over a long period. Racing and Trotting Views Mr. Blundell said he understood that the presentation of the Rac-. ing Conference's case in its initial stages would take* three of four days. Mr. Thomas, for the Trottirg Conference, said that extra trotting aays would be sought separately, and he understood Southland arid Auckland were instructing counsel for those areas. The question of the -Commis* sioner of Police, Director of Broadcasting and Director-Genei al of the Post Office being summoned befoi e the commission was raised by Dr. Mazengarb, who said he would like an opportunity of hearing from them about matters "that alarm certain members of the public." He inentioned lotteries and the -broadcasting of tace resiilts. . • • . * *• : The chairman sftid that could' ne gone into when -the need oi justification arose. fe;-' e ' ".iiii , , i&r"iTT,