Two-Up on the Wharf.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 7, 3 October 1907, Page 4

Two-Up on the Wharf.

—4 REV. J. J. NORTH CRITICISED. HARBOUR. BOARD INDIGNANT. "It is a matter for great regret that a gentleman, and especially 0. clergyman, should make a statement of that character without there being an atom of truth in it." The words fell, with indignant heat, from tho lips of the Hon. T. IC. Maedonnld, at the meeting of/the Harbour Board 011 Tuesday afternoon. The clergyman referred to was the Rev. J. J. North, and the statement objected to was made by him as President of the Council of Evangelical Churches, 011 Monday night. Amongst other . things, the- Council discussed " two-up" 011 the wharf, and passed the following motion That the Council record its strong protest against the condition of things prevailing in the room provided lor wharf labourers by the Harbour Board. In spite of newspaper revelation the evidence in the hands of the Council is that gambling is still pursued in this room throughout the day. The Council feels that if. gambling legislation at present in force is as ineffective as the condition of tho Harbour Board property suggests, further legislation will prove farcical. Tho Council urges that the Harbour Board should recognise its obligations to the Council and to the decent section of its employees,and either close the rooms or cleanse them." Tho Chairman of the Harbour Board took strong exception to the inference drawn that the Board was neglecting its duties in reference to tho matter. To show that the trouble had been recognised and that steps had been taken to try and remedy it, Mr. Macdonald read correspondence which had taken place. A LETTER AND REPLY. On reading tho paper that morning, said the Chairman, he wrote to the secretary of tho Board. In the letter was the following-.—" Mr. North also states that a deputation had already represented the matter to the Board, when they were treated in a very cavalier fashion. As I have no knowledge of any deputation.having already waited on tho Board, I shall he glad to have any information in your possession with reference to this matter." In reply, the Secretary, Mr: Ferguson, said: —"I am not aware that the matter has ever been brought under the notice, of the. Harbour Board by deputation. I presume the shed referred, to is the waiting-room, where, under an agreement settled under an award of the Arbitration Court, men for employment 011 or about the ship-ping'-and wharves are engaged. This room .is situated 011 the upper -floor of the "X" store, and is under the caro of an employee of the Board, who has strict orders to prevent any gambling. Some,time ago my attention was drawn to a rumour that, notwithstanding theso instructions, gambling did take placo in the waiting-room. Under date July 30, I wrote to the Inspector of Police, drawing attention to the matter, and seeking to learn whether a police constable could be detached to bo on duty in the room from S a.m. to 5 p.m. on six days in the week, the duties of such constable to be to prevent gambling' and keep order, and asking, whether, if such' nients- could 'he made, any charge ■ would bo made to the Board for the services' .rendered. Tho Inspector of Police replied on August 2, stating that it was quite impossible to. sparo a man for such a service, apart from the question as to whether the police should undertake such / work; that he had given: instructions to the constables 011 day duty on the' wharves to visit the waiting-room as often as their numerous other duties would permit to keep a check-\ on any' unlawful games, beilig played or disorderly conduct taking place, and thereby to assist' the Board's officers.. This correspondence was laid before the Board at'its' August meeting. I would point out to you that it is nearly impossible to prevent men gambling if they desire 'to do so. The Board's officers have constantly drawn the attention of, the, police to r congregations of men' on the reclaimed lands, where it. was believed that "two-up" arid other gambling games were being indulged in. I am of opinion that in respect to the waiting-room this matter of gambling has been greatly exaggerated. Thateven if it exists to the extent that has been alleged, I -am unable to say how the Board can practically prevent it. So far as I myself and 'the officers of tho Board are concerned,. we liave at all times done "our best to prevent gambling on the Board's l premises. I enclose copies of correspondence to and ■ from the Inspector of Police." DRASTIC ACTION. That correspondence, said Mr Macdonald after reading it, showed that not only were the Board- fully alive to their responsibilities, but that they had dealt with the matter in the most drastic'fashion within their power, and such a statement as was mado at the Council-of Churches was entirely'undeserved. "It is a matter of great regret to mo and to. tho members of this Board," he continued, " that the President of tho Churches should > make a clear and definite statement that a deputation ■ waited upon this Board and were treated in a very cavalier fashion. As a matter of absolute fact ajul truth, no such deputation -waited 011 tho Board." , Mr.' -Shirtcliffe: We must assume that ho was correctly, reported. "The papers would not say he made tho statement unless he diu," replied the Chairman. "It is a matter of great regret that a gentleman, and especially a clergyman, should make a statement of -that character without there being an atom of truth in it. I know of'no deputation that has waited on this Board that has not been treated with the greatest 'respect. Not only is due attention given to their views,, but their wishes are given effect to if possible. THE CRUSADE AGAINST GAMBLING. "It greatly diminishes the effect of the crusade of the churches against a great social evil—such as we admit gambling to be—when statements are n.'ado like this against a public body, without an atom of foundation. it seriously diminishes the value of other statements, of this kind. I notice another gentleman at tho Council made a serious statement against a local club, ami therefor.) one is apt to conclude that they have been equally misinformed as to the club. I hopo that Mr. North and his fellow delegates to the Council of Churches will, in questions of this kind, confine themselves to opinions that are absolutely within their knowledge of fact, and not go into the regions of romance, as lias been done in this case." Sometimes there were 300 or 400 men waiting their turn for employment on the wharf, added Mr. AJacdonald, and it was impossible to keep men of > that kind from doing something. Draughts, books, and periodicals wcro provided, but somo of the men were bound t-j indulge in some mild form of gambling. It was a form of recreation to them, and if the churches would devote themsehes to doing somethinK to provide n rational amusement for the nien, instead of calling them and , a. public body names it would be verv much better all round. "1 hope Ave shall no 1: hear anything more of the Council of Churches accusing public bodies like the Harbour Board of failing in their duty in regard to a great social evil liko this," he concluded, amidst applause. The matter then dropped.