CHURCHES OPPOSE EXTENSION OF GAMBLING

Chronicle (Levin), 7 January 1948, Page 5

CHURCHES OPPOSE EXTENSION OF GAMBLING

WELLINGTON, Jan. 7. "We think the evil of gambling has such a hold on the community that the only.thing for a responsible Government concerhed: with the well-being of the people to do is to cry a halt," said Rev. P. Gladstone Hughes, president df the Associated Churches, commehting on the gaming report. The Assoqiated Churches. were opposed to the extension of the gambling facilities in every shape and fOrm, he said. They and their sympathisers would fully discuss the report before the matter was brought before Parliament. . "We are conscious of the fact that racing interests have paid no heed to the effort to prevent the assembling of great crowds in order «to prevent the spread of infantile paralysis — they' simply went on, suggesting thereby that the general welfare of the community is a matter of small consideration compared with the satisfaction of the gambling urge." The churches were pleased with the decision not to allow totalisator permits for dog racing, and also with the 'fact that State lotteries were not recommended, but the strenuous opposition to bookmaking expressed by the Commission was weakened by the concessions in other directions. The recommendations concerning offcourse betting appeared- to mean the extension "of. betting facilities pure and; simple. To provide offcourse betting was really trying to eliminate the bookmaker by putting up something else.