BAN ON GAMBLING NOT PRACTICABLE.

Chronicle (Levin), 15 March 1947, Page 8

BAN ON GAMBLING NOT PRACTICABLE.

WELLINGTON, March 14. "We recognise that the state 'of pub:ic opinion is not such as to make the prohibition of organised gambling a praot.i'cul possibility," said the Rev. P. Gladstone Htighes, PreSbyterian niiniser of Welling'ton, when testifving beore the Gaming Commission this morning. He added that, subject to thqt limitauon, the Churches believed that Parliament must legislate on moral inatte'rs m the interests of society, and that such legislation shouJd seek to preveiit ir punish breaches of the moral law, and never to coudone them or derive revenue from them. The Churches he epresented, therefore, advocated Ihe naxinnm restriction of organised gambling. The ci.airntan (Mr. Justice Finlay) : Hie probiem is oue initially of educa.ion from the Cliurch? — Yes. Witness added that the Churches envisaged an ultimate prohibition of organised gambling by a gradual eliminwtion of the'inducements. You do not recommend prohibition of gambling now, because prohibition of it now would offend against the ethical ■tandards of the community? — It would •Irive gambling underground. The Churches suggested, said the witness, the strengthening of the law for the suppression of illegal gambling, as well as the establishment of a speeial department of the Police Force to deal with it. Other points put forward were that there should be an immediate and continuing reduction in the number of totalisator permits, as well as elimrnation of the proflts of racing and trottijig clubs from the totalisator. .To Alr. Blundell (for the R^cmg the Church must' deal- with ciWdm'^fanee's is they are? — We have to tolerate | them. I You realise that the Commission may ; recommend that some foi'iii of off i-ourse betting should be adopted?— • \ cs.