THE GAMING BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 38, 8 November 1907, Page 6

THE GAMING BILL.

RESOLUTIONS BY THE ANTI-GAMBLING LEAGUE. The Citizens' Anti-Gambling League has adopted the following deliverance with regard to the new Gambling Bill:—"Tho League cordially welcomes those provisions in the Bill which aim at hindering street betting. The quarantine clauses, which have been proved to bo effective in the Commonwealth, _v."ill serve a quiet purpose in this land. Since both these sections are of a non-contentious order, the League urges that) they be passed during the present session of Parliament. As regards the rest, of tho Bill, the League is unnblo to approve unreservedly of any Bill which continues the State license of the totalisator. The League further regrets that the Bill is inconsistent with Sir Joseph Ward's announced principle, viz.. 'Tho confining of betting to'racecourses.' Tho fearless application oftfhat principle would, we believe, command the support of the country. Tho Bill lacks consistency with the Premier's principle in "the following respects:—(l) It leaves untouched the. most persistent cause of street betting and outside betting, viz..,—the publication of totalisator dividends. The prohibition of tho publication of dividends is imperatively required bv the Premier's principle, and by Australian'precedent. Nothing could possibly bo done under existing .circumstances, which would effect so hugo ■ a diminution of the volume of betting as this:—(2) The Bill officially recognises the bookmaker as well as tho totalisator, and thus destroys the pretext on which the machino was licensed. The ofiicinl recognition of tho bookmaker is utterly inconsistent with tho Premier's principle, and, as evorvone can see, involves its and his defeat."