VIEWS OF HON. G. FOWLDS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 868, 14 July 1910, Page 6

VIEWS OF HON. G. FOWLDS.

"A VERY GRAVE EVIL." INTENTIONS OF TH.E GOVERNMENT. l3y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Auckland, Julv 13. The campaign against tho legalising of bookmakers was carried another step forward this evening, when a deputation largely representative of the commercial interests of Auckland waited upon the Minister for Education (the Hon. Georgo Fowlus). Mr. David Goldie said the deputation did not think the. Governments suggested remedy, namely, to bring the bookmaker before the magistrate before the isBiiing of his license, would have the desired effect. They desired to recommend the adoption of similar legislation to that which existed in New York, viz., a provision forbidding bookmaking, with or without.writing, and a second clause rendering race-track directors liable to punishment in the event of gambling taking place on their tracks. (Hear, hear.) Tho Minister: Would you include the totalisator in your definition of gambling ? Mr. Goldie: The position that we take up at presi'.-it is thai if you wont grant •ns the prohibition of both forms right away we want you to give us half a loaf at. once. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. C.Mackay spoke of the extent to which the vice war. citing into the vitals of commerce. Dunn-.; the past ten years "i2,0B0,l)Cl)'li:iiI passed Lhruugh the totalisator, and he thought it a terrible, fuel thnt during that period the State had drawn .2222,000 from such a source. (Hear, hear.) 'Die Minuter sahl personally he was in the fulles-t sympathy with the views expressed by the deputation, and he would be pleased to do what he could to have their desires given clfeoi tu. He might say that the Government was quite 6eized with the fact that a very grave evil had developed from that particular clause in the -Gaming Act brought in n few sessions ago in-regard to the licensing of bookmakers. They must remember, however, that this Act was a very great advance upon the gaming laws previously in force in every-respect except as far as the bookmakers themselves wero concerned. He would remind them of tho strong effort made by the Government to pass that measure, and of the fact thai it was not possible to secure its enactment without the clause to which he-referred owing to the number of men in tho House who believed that as long as tho totalisator was allowed to operate the bookmaker should also be allowed to pursue his calling. The particular object of that measure was to confine betting to the racecourses, but oxperiencu showed that not only had it failed to do bu, but that the gambling had increased. The Government quite recognised tho evil arising from the. direction indicated, and thev were determined to do something of a remedial nature during this session—(hear, hear)—"and," added tho Minister, "1 daresay that it will be much upon the lines you have suggested.'' (Hear, hear.) Developments with regard to bookmakers had been very large, not only in connection with gambling, but it had tended to attract to the country an undeniably criminal class. They all recognised that something had to be done, and done promptly. ' The Minister was thanked for his attentive hearing.