ANTI-GAMBLING LEAGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 345, 20 February 1902, Page 2

ANTI-GAMBLING LEAGUE.

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH. last night-

At a meeting to form an AntiGam b lug League to-night, Bishop Julius, who presided, referred to the great increase in gambling, and especially to the popularity of t*-? game of • Bridge.” (rambling. 1- aid. was one one of the greatest >ral evils. A League, if formed. d have to educate public- opinion ,il it could see that gambling mu ■ ..■ j~t down. Mr (i. Laiii'ensoi:, i1.1'., quoted statistics to show pr alence of gambling, and moti . : " That ibis meeting deplores the increase of the prevalence of gambling, and recognise that determined efforts should be made to check the further spread of the evil. He said that during 1891 £501!,000 bad passed through the totalisators in the colony, while during 1900 the sum of £l.l OK.OOO was passed through. The -increase of population during that period was only 10,000. The number of jockeys and trainers bail also increased quite as fast as bad the gambling spirit. The Rev. C. Kward seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously Mr YV. W. Tanner, M.H.R., spoke in support of the movement, and proposed the establishment of ail anti-gambling league which was seconded by the Rev Mr Burton, and carried. Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R.. supported the movement, and said that while-the statute-book bristled with anti-gambling measures, Government drew a considerable sum from the totalisator, and as a salve to their conscience, they made raidson Chinese who played fan-tan, and on the premises of bookmakers whose books were confiscated, though that was not doing nearly so much harm as the totalisator. The Commonwealth Parliament had set an example which he hoped New Zealand would follow.