THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1881. THE LOTTERIES BILL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2271, 13 July 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1881. THE LOTTERIES BILL.

The goody-goody portion of the community are in a great state of excitement respecting the passage of the Gaming and Lotteries Bill now before the House. So far as we can learn, the idea is to put an end to the numerous sweeps or consultations which are so prevalent. Now., without on the present occassion discus--1 sing the point as to' the moral obliquity : involved in taking part in these consultations, we should like to put it to these very proper persons who are takiig suchan active part in promoting it, whether they have the remotest idea that if the ' Bill passes, these consultations, or rather the participation in them by the people o£ New Zealand, will cease ? If they do, we cannot but think they have lived in the world for many years for nothing. Granted that it be made a penal offence if you like to promote these consultations, what is to prevent people of speculative ; tendencies sending their money outside the colony instead of the sweeps being drawn here. Now, as we have pretty clear proof that in Australia consultations are of frequent occurrence, and as there '■ is no bar to New Zcalanders investing their money therein, the Bill when passed will not in one whit lessen the evil 1 complained of. Indeed, more than this, ' it will open the door considerably to ! fraud, without a great deal of risk. Now, : as our readers are probably aware, the consultations are projected and managed in the various cities of New Zealand under | the eyes, as it were, of the persons interested, and by tradesmen well known to them. But if the action of these gentlemen who strain at gnats and swallew moas results ia success, what follows ? "Why that the whole of this money, estimated at something like £20,000 per annum, will be sent out of the colony, End thus a premium will be offered to dishonest persons to project these schemes, secure in being able,if so inclined,to depart a hi North, for fresh fields and pastures new. It may be said that the public, if they are swindlod in this manner, are rightly served, and it may be so. But the point is that no chock will be put on what these gentlemen take to be an evil, whilst every temptation is afforded to the evil disposed to commit crime. Which is the worst of the two, viz., the continuance of consultations or the manufacture of criminals, we leave the reverend gentlemen who are making such a stir in this matter to decide. There can be no doubt of this that until consultations are declared to bo illegal throughout the whole of the Australasian colonies, it is useless for such an enactment to be made in one part of it. It is, as our readers are doubtless aware, proposed to exempt totalisators from the action of this Bill under license from the Government. Where the difference in moral guilt exists between the use of totalisators and participation in consultations, does not appear; but there must be some sort of a sliding scale, as the one is allowed to be participated in, whilst the other is sternly repressed. It is true that the management of the totalisators are to bo vested in the Racing Clubs, but a 9 we take it, the management makes no difference as to the moral aspect of the affair, which is the stand taken by the promoters and supporters of this Bill. Gambling is gambling, whether by means of totalisators or consultations, and it does not seem to be justice to visit the participators in one with the pains and penalties of the law, and not only allow the other to go free, but extend over them the mgia of the Government. Therefore, it seems to us that we have satisfactorily shown the Bill as proposed to be a mass of contradictions and incongruities. It fails most signally—or will do so if it passes—to achieve what we understand to be its principal object, viz., to suppress gambling. The only result will bo to drive the money out of the colony, offer a premium to swindling, and in no wise check the spirit of speculation which is so much deplored. So far as we can see, it would be far bettor to allow matters to remain as they are. The consultations are carried on in the light of day, and it is very rare indeed that any swindling is perpetrated, and seeing that no good result will follow tho well-meant but abortive efforts of

the good people who are interested in this Bill, we hope the House will throw it out.