ALARMED AT INCREASE IN GAMBLING

Chronicle (Levin), 21 May 1947, Page 3

ALARMED AT INCREASE IN GAMBLING

—P^ess Association

By Telegraph-

DUNEDIN, May 20. "I am convinced that if the issue were. to be put by a referendnm to the 'people of Otago, whether they wanted gamb.ing facilities increased or restricted, they would vote in favour of restrietion. I kave never yet met a parent who wanted his children to be encouraged to gamble, ' ' said Dr. Balmond, lecturer in Christian "education at Knox College, who presented, on behalf of the associated churches, a claim for the maximum restrietion of gambling. "Youth leaders of the associated churches support ttie in requesting that there should be restrictions on the puhlieity given to liquor and gambling. We also Ihink that permits for avt unions should be redueed and that no school children should be permitted to be selling agents for raffle tiekets.'T ' *•' ''I O *'.• Witness added that he requested, on behalf of the churches, that the Commission should include in its report a section on moral education. Dr. Salmond quoted the resultS' of a questionnaire sent out by -him to dbout 90 representative . Presbyterian -youth, leaders to which gbqut 40'replies- were '•received. He stated?that ijboht 80 .per" cent of the leaderjf skid they- c'buld ^Lve'i evidence of the prevalence of gambling among the young people of their areas. The highest incidence was among those in industrial and mining areas. The general opinion was that adolescents 'did not gaiuble much on horse racing eompared with on raffles and sweepstakes. About 90 per cent of the answers asserted that gambling had increased during the past few years and that the publieation of racing and art union results stimulated gambling. Young people envied the winners of prizes. Dr. Salmond said that evidence was available from 75 per cent of the replies that betting took place «n athletic and sports events and among young people in shops, offices and factories. Young people appeared to be introduced to gambling when they began work and some of their discussions were on the subject. Few cases appeared in court beeause of gambling. Liquor was regarded as a greater problem than gambling among youths. Witness added that the general opinion he had learned from a study of the replies was that gambling in all. its forms had assumed in New Zealand dimensions sufficient to alarm all responsible citizens.