TOTALISATOR BILL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1813, 28 July 1913, Page 8

TOTALISATOR BILL.

CLERGYMEN IN PROTEST. PREMIUM BONDS DENOUNCED. (By Meeranh.—Snecial Correspondent.) Auckland; Julv 27. Two telegrams relating to totaiisatol permits and premium .bonds have been sent by tho Auckland Ministers-' Association to the Prime Minister (the Hon. \V. P. Massey) and Messrs. Myers, Bradney, Harris, Mander, and H. F. Bollard, M.i Vs. The messages, which wero signed by the Row Isaac Jolly, president, and the Rev. Howard Elliott, convenor of the Public Morals Committee, were as follow "(1) On behalf of the Ministers' Association, which represents 50,000 people in the Auckland province, wo desirp to enter an earnest and emphatic protest against tho Bill introduced by Mr. Wilford to ex tend the number' of days' racing permis sible under totalisator permits. \Yo re gard the Bill; as a subtle attempt to undo the gambling, legislation of- the past year or two at the bohest of tho racing clubs, and in view of the enormous inoreasa in tluo totalisator i returns of tho post eighteen months, it constitutes a serious menace to the well-being of tho country. "(2) On behalf of the .Auckland Ministers' Association, which represents 50,000 people in the Auckland province, we desire to enter a most emphatic protest against tho legalisation of premium bonds. The bonds have been declared by tho Supremo Court and also by the Appeal Court to be a gamble. They are recognised as such the v.-oTld over. We urge that financially and morally it would be a disastrous policy to legalise the Continental lottery in this country."

Somo of the reasons wliich actuated the Ministers' Association in tho course they have taken were explained to a reporter by the Rev. Howard Elliott. "The Bill introduced by Mr. T. M. Wilford," he said, "is in lino with tho many and continu.'ous representations which have been made to the Massey Government for a rescission of the gambling legislation passed by the Liberal Administration, which was certainly a move in the Tight direction, Sir Joseph Ward agreeing when Primo Minister that racing and the money epentin racing were growing out of all proportion to the wealth of the community. The Racing Committee was set up with the instruction to rcduco the number of race days to 250 per annum, which it did, allotting the various days as the distribution of population warranted. Ever since that time there has been a hue and cry for a reconsideration of those permits. "Tho proposal of Mr. Wilford's Bill" added Mr. Elliott, "would' allow an unlimited number of days for racing, and under it wo would soon be in a far .worse position than we wero prior to tho recent gambling legislation. Tho Bill must bo regarded as ono of the most reactionary measures introduced to the Parliament of New Zealand for some years, and any suclii proposals will meet with the strongest opposition not only from those who regard racing associated with, gambling with suspicion but also from those friends of racing who recognise that its existence in this country depends upon its proper restriction, control, and administration. If the Massey Government is to retain any of tho confidence of the people represented by our association, there will havo to be a very marked alteration in their attitude 011 this question."

Referring to tho question of premium bonds, Mi\ Elliott said that the subtle devico resorted to by Continental corporations or Governments in offering large prizes as an inducement to purchase their low interest-bearing- bonds appeared to havo appealed successfully to tho cupidity and foolishness of about 20,000 people in this country. The laws of this country prevent the circulation through the post of circulars for Continental lotteries, whereas the country used a few' years ago to be flooded -with invitations to invest. We nlso endeavoured by our legislation to prevent the operation of "Tattcrsalls" in this country, and havo tried to clean up the Dominion by clearing out tho bookmaker. Now we have tho spectacle of tho same legislature w'liich lias enacted theso other reforms proposing to legalise tho premium bond system. "It would seem needless to comment on this," added Mr. Elliott, "but it is to be remarked that tho Bill has been introduced by an Auckland member (Mr. Harris), and it is well that Auckland people should express themselves! upon it.