DRINK AND GAMBLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2056, 29 April 1907, Page 4

DRINK AND GAMBLING.

THEIR INFRUENCE ON CHIME

In reference to the Auckland Court statistics for the March quarter. Mi • C. C. Kettle, S.M., when interviewed, said:— “I attribute to drinking and gambling 80 per eont. at the very least of the crime that comes before the Police Court. There is no question in my mind about that. It is a conservative estimate, and every Magistrate must come to the same conclusion. I speak of the colony as a whole, not of Auckland in particular, but a very large percentage of the eases under the Married Women’s Summary Separation Act also arise through diinking on the part of the husbands. Drinking has such terribly iar-reacli-ing effects. We in the courts do not see all its consequences. If a man were to drop a shell and kill twenty people, the Court would only deal with one offender. Its records would take no count of the victims oi Ins folly. I am not a prohibitionist; I am not a teetotaller; but I am, oi course, opposed .to excessive drinking, and I certainly think, too, that the mischief arising from drinking would he ten times less than it is were the drink made as pure and honest as it is claimed to be. I do not think a glass of beer will hurt anyone. The harm is in excessive drinking, and especially when combined with adulterated liquoi. I know nothing, however, of the natuie of the beer. That is a matter for the Health Department.” “What do you think of the weapons which the law places in vour hands for dealing with the drunkard. Mr. Kettle was asked.

“I think we are just fiddling uitli the problem,” lie erplied. “A\e are no nearer a solution of tbe problem than we have ever been. Time and time again I see before me the same people. Fines do not stop them drinking. They should be settled on State farms, far away from the influence of drink. I believe in the prohibition order as a check, and my opinion is shared by the police ; but does it invuriably prohibitP It does not, but such cases are exceptions, I

am glad to say. There are always j per.plo who will break tlio^law. beliovo, too, that our licensing"lawn, where strictly carried out, do good, l.uil everything depends upon the police and the magistrate. Hero in Auckland 1 think the police do their best, and all that can he reasonably expected of them under the circumstances. The ‘shouting’ evil is responsible lor a great deal ol' unnecessary, absurd drinking.” “What have you to say about gambling?” “This is a terrible, rapidly-growing evil. Look at the rise of investments on the totnlisator from £500,078 in 1892 to £1,555,038 in 1905-00. It is stupendous.. Gambling among the people and grown up women is increasing alarmingly. Ono of the cliiof reasons given to the Bonch by working people who nro financially embarrassed, and against whom judgment summonses arc issued is losses through betting. One hears this over and over again in trying civil eases. Money is devoted to liorso racing which should have been used in the paying of debts or the maintenance of tho family.” “Then how would you propose to stop gambling?” “I should ma'ke hotting on any sport absolutely illegal; make it an offence.” “But would that stop gambling? Is it not a question of moral degeneration of the individual?” “Gambling, of course, can be carried oh without horses or sports. People who will gamble can do so, but I think much might he done by cleansing all sports with which gambling is or can he associated by making betting illegal.”