GAMING PROPOSALS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 16 July 1910, Page 5

GAMING PROPOSALS

WARM DEBATE EXPECTED. VIEWS OP SOME OP. THE MEMBERS. The position of the' bookmaker and the totalisator is being much discussed by members in the lobbies, and a warm debate is anticipated when the resolutions, of which notice has been given by the Government,, are submitted. According to Mr. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, the motion is evidently being brought forward . with the ob-ject-'of ascertaining tho opinion of a. majority of members as a guide to the Government in framing their legislation on the subject. "If the Government have any definite views on the subject," continued Mr. Massey, "they should bring down their Bill at once and let Parliament deal with it. I am quite satisfied that a very large majority of members are against compulsory licensing of bookmakers and' I believe a large majority of members would also be __ against the totalisator only they know perfectly well that to abolish the totalisator is to play right into the bookmakers' hands. There then is the difficulty. Abolish the totalisator aud legally or illegally the bookmaker flourishes. People who sincerely desire to minimise the gambling evil need to be careful that they are not led into a trap as was the case in 1907." Asked whether ho' considered that there was too much racing, Mr. Massey replied:— "Yes, there is undoubtedly too much racing, and I believe the House will agree to reduce the number of racing days, though I do not think a majority will go as far as the motion indicates." In conclusion Mr. v Massey said that it was very amusing to see Ministers proposing now to reduce the "number of racing-days, when one remembered that on the occasion of the last Gaming; Bill being dealt with they voted solidly to maintain the present position. "- - .. Mr. G. W. Russell (Avon) is very much against the bookmaker. . With resolution number one, which is aimed at the bookmaker's existence, Mr. Russell said he cordially agreed, and he thought it would be carried by. a large majority. The second resolution was aimed at the totalisator. His opinion was that gambling was a vice or a luxury according to circumstances. He believed it was impossible to suppress it entirely, and that if this were. done it would break out in still worse forms. He had therefore always supported .the retention of the totalisator because it provided a vehicle for betting for the bulk of tho people, and had not those evils which were inherent to the bookmaker system. At the'- same time, if the position should ever arise that both had to go on both. had -to be retained, he would vote that both should be wiped out, so much did-he detest bookmaking. He regarded a reduction in tho number of racing permits as very proper. The effect of the resolutions, if i carried, would be to bring back the healthy form of sport he knew in the Waikato and elsewhere in the earlier days, when the day's racing was a pleasurable moans of social intercourse, and not an opportunity for gambling. 'Mr. A. M. Myers (Auckland East) said there was evidently an earnest desire on behalf of a'large number of members of the House to have this question up for discussion at the earliost possible opportunity, especially so as apparently members would bo afforded an opportunity of voting on the question of the licensing of bookmakers, apart from tho prohibition of tho'totalisator. There could be little doubt that the number of totalisator permits issued, throughout tho Dominion would be re-' duced considerably by legislation. Personally he was keeping an open mind on the question, and would exercise his vote _ in accordance with the. dictates of his judgment. Mr. 'Newman (Mauawatu). said that he believed the first dirty of Parliament was to repeal tho clause legalising tho bookmaker. The bookmaker had nothing to recommend him,. and was the source of a great evil; and must go. . Friowfeof the bookmaker in and out of Parliament realised his danger, and sought' to bracket him with the totalisator as.a last hope. The bookmaker knew- that he had no hope on his merits, but the totalisator had many friends, both among the racing and tho "sporting public and amongst those persons who thought that, , as gambling could not be stopped,'. it should be regulated and kept in moderation by a legalising machine—and the bookmaker sought to shelter himself behind the totalisator. Indeed, it was his only hope. At the first Wellington meeting a representative of the bookmakers proposed a resolution to this effect.. Ho a-sked that the Government be urged to abolish Ixith institutions. He thus made his policy clear. Mr. Newman trusted that those who sought tho repeal of Clause 34 would keep clear of this entanglement. Personally he considered that if tho totalisator and the-bookmaker were abolished, the "bookmaker would continue to do a ( large business. If the totalisator were left it would be almost wiped out. It was his opinion that the.question of the < totalisator should be referred to the people by referendum, becauseonly with a strong public opinion behind it could any such social reform he effectively carried out. No doubt the number of races should be reduced, but it should be in the cities and larger towns that the reductions were made, not ,in the number of countrj' meetings. NATIONAL DEPUTATION. Tho Citizen, League has prepared its programme for the ( national deputation on Monday next, which will be introduced by Mr. H. G. Ell, M.P., of Chnstchurch. It will be led by . the president (Mr. J. G. W.' Aitken). Tho secretary (the Rev. J.J. North)' will state the position, and tho case will be urged by the Bishop of Wellington, 'by Professor Kirk of Victoria College, by Mr. Firth of the Boys' College, and by Mr. S. Clark-John'sou (inspector of tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency: Company, Ltd.). The league has received sheaves of resolutions from public meetings in the twenty-five chief centres of the colony. It anticipates that tho matter will receive attention in. 300 churches on Sunday. Ashburton has sent a declaration, signed by 50 prominent citizens, as to tho evil of tho licensed bookmaker, and the Chambers of Commerce in several centres are sending drastic resolutions. ThcMnyor of Dunedin will preside to-night over a meeting to be addressed by Dr. Henry, and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Trades Hall, and tho Council of . Churches. The agitation seems to be ovenly spread over the community. All men.and women keen for reform are urged to attend Monday's deputation. The meeting place is the Parliament House (old Governor's residence), and the hour noon.