The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1595. GAMBLING LEGISLATION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 11, 12 July 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1595. GAMBLING LEGISLATION.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Lands Bill Committee recommended the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company Lottery Uill be allowed to proceed, the House refused leave to introduce the measure by thirty-nine to thirteen votes— an overwhelming majority. In this the members have acted wisely. The spirit of gambling is too prevalent in the country to need any further encouragement. That it may be guided and governed by judicious legislation we confidently assert, but so long as human nature remains as it is the passion will never be wholly eradicated. A Bill has been prepared by which it is intended to legalise " consultations " in this colony, the author being desirous of " keeping that money in the country " whicii at present pours in tens of thousands of pounds annually to another colony where such things are permitted ; but it is a significant circumstance that the very colony which is supposed to be benefited by this importation oi foreign money is now promoting legislation against that very attractive system of gambling and its alleged beneticial results. New Zealand has already had practical and very unpleasant experiences in connection with these "consultations" when in the hands of unscrupulous men, and, wheu Parliament swept them out, the wisdom of their action was not questioned for a moment. We h ive not the full text of Mr Lawry's Bill before us, but we have reason to believe that the intention is to have them under State control and make theni a direct source of revenue. Well, this may " guild the pill " for some people, but the great mass who have the interests of the rising generation at heart will reject it. "" Readers of history need not be reminded of the disastrous consequences of the State lotteries in England not so many years ago, aud although it is accepted that " history repeats itself," yet we are not ripe for such a repetition in this portion of the British Empire.