LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1820, 5 August 1913, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

OUR LEGISLATORS, THE CLERGY, AND THE TOTALISATOR,

Sir,—Because 0110 of our legislators in (tho person of Mr. Thos. Wilford has tho courage of Ms convictions in bringing forth a Gaming Amendment Bill, thereby giving those racing clubs a chance of regaining their permits, a certain section of 'the community, i.e., tho clergy, and some of our legislators are up in arms against it right away, which opposition I venture to say arises not altogether from a free anil conscientious mind. In tho case of our legislators (or most of thorn) their actions are controlled by fear, fear that ot somo futuro election a certain section of the public (principally coldtea drinkers) may not vote for them In that of the clergy that they think 'their special mission on earth is to prevent gambling, tote-betting and Tattersall s 111 particular, not forgetting premium bonds. Now it is just as well to look this matter squarely in 'the face. Gambling, in eomo form or other has existed fro"' time immemorial, ftlld ill spite of . all legislation to tho.contrary will continue to J{i\ lS lsitt considers "tho gambling mania a great drain on tho resources ot the Dominion." I suppose it does aiot occur to tho honourable gentleman that excessive taxation is a- great drain on tho peoplo of tho Dominion. Oh! no, and I should say one of the principal duties of a legislator is to reduce that taxation. If we are to have gambiinff, let tho country as a wholo benefit thereby. What is tho use of legislating to suppress gambling whan, it goes on just the same, only m a more secretive manner. I sny that there are thousands of pounds lost and won annually per medium of tho bookmaker, who, like the brook, will go on for ever. Tho Reverend Isaac Jolly and the lieverend Howard Elliot, on behalf of the Ministers' Association, say:—"As representing 50,000 peoplo in tho Auckland province; "we "desire to enter an earnest and emphatic protest against the Bill introduced by Mr. Wilford." I say, if the Ministers' Association' were to make a personal canvass of their 50,000 peoplo, the number would be reduced by about 40,000. It is rather a largo order for a oocly of men to say they voico tho opinion. oi 50,000 people. The lleverend Howard Elliot praises the Liberal Government that was for its curtailment of racing permits, etc., but he doesn't say that by inflicting such restrictions on a plea-sure-loving peoplo that same* Government sounded its own death knell. Oh I dear no! It was truly a fine Government. A one-man Government, that could curtail the liberty of tho peoplo with tho one hand and throw a million pounds of the country's money into the sea with the other. i\'ow Zealand is fast becoming a law-ridden country. Wo are going to bed hore when most other countries are just beginning to wake up, and I can seo tho time is not far distant when they, will be ringing a curfew boll in this Dominion. I will say that most of tho betting per bookmakers is double-betting, so if our legislators wish to injure the poor bookmaker let them give us our double totalisator back again, which did lio one any harm. In regard to Tattersall's sweeps, wliy not have a Stato lottery? ' It is just as easy to get tickets in "TattV' now as it ever was. .It is far better to keep,the money in the Dominion than to send it away. I suppose Tasmania makes a profit of something like .£20,000 annually, perhaps more, principally money from : oversea. Why shouldn't wo have the profits right here ? This is a question our legislators will have to face 'sooner or later, and if it was put to tho vote of /the people it would be carried a dozen times over. New Zealand is deader now than it has been for a considerable time—the result of past legislation —and it is up to our representatives to cast prejudice asido, and not to listen to a lot of cant and humbug from a lot of hysterical old women. That Dreadnought money will take a lot of. making up, and our legislators have the remedy in their own .hands. Hoping, Jlr.,,Editor, you will find fcpaco for these ' reflections,—l am, etc., CHARLES YOUIvG.