ASSAILING THE BOOKMAKER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 863, 8 July 1910, Page 5

ASSAILING THE BOOKMAKER.

PROCEEDINGS AT AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, July 7. A conference was held between committees representing Auckland business men and the Auckland Miners' Association in the Chamber of Commerce, Swanson Street, this afternoon for the purpose of considering: what steps should be taken to combat the gambling .evil. Mr. J. Stewart, .who was elected to the chair, said that he did not thiak that there could be any diversity of opinion with regard to the utterances of Mr. justice Chapman. There was not the slightest doubt that the gambling evil was eating into the heart of the commercial community, and it was high time that steps were taken for checking it. Besides the cases that came before the Supreme Court as the result of gambling, there were thousands of others. The people possibly did not see that the matter was one which really had to be grappled with. The liov. Kuuwles Ivempton (president of the Ministers' Association) voiced tho appreciation of the association at the action of tiie local business men. He thought that if tliey adopted the tactics of Napoleon, by mtirching at an imglo ana dealing with the bookmakers, they would achieveas glorious a victory. (Applause.) Mr. North considered that the wholo community was indebted to Mr. Justice Chap-, man, and with Mr. Kemp ton, he thought that they should concentrate their energies on one' thing at present—the abolition of the • bookmakers. Mr. Ewington moved: "That this meeting commend to the serious attention of parents, business men, journalists, members of Parliament, churches, and the general public, the very solemn utterance.-; of his Honour Mr. Justice Chapman, in tho Supreme Court on June 23 last, against the great evils of gambling." Mr. J. C. Mackay seconded the motion which was carried unanimously. Mr. T. Hodgson moved: "That, in view of the strong remarks of Mr. Justice Chapman at the Auckland Supreme Court on the evils of legalised gambling (Parliament having granted to bookmakers a legalised calling, which calling lias been responsible for the temptation and downfall of trusted young men) this meeting, representing so many commercial and industrial employers, earnestly desires that a deputation of business men proceed to Wellington, and make an earnest appeal to the Prime Minister, and the Minister for Justice to have the legalised bookmakers' calling removed from tho Statute-book of our Dominion; also that a deputation from this meeting wait upon the Chamber of Commerce and lay this vital question before them for their consideration, and that they be respectfully asked to join in appointing a deputation to proceed to Wellington to carry out the important request of the petitioners." Mr. Matthew Clark seconded the motion, wliir.h was then put, and carried ananimouslv.