The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY AUGUST 5, 1926. THE GAMING LAW.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY AUGUST 5, 1926. THE GAMING LAW.

The proposed'amendment to the Gaming Act introduced in the Upper House by a. private member, had a good passage in the place of origin. The measure is now to go before the Loner House where it is certain to meet with a good deal of criticism. The gaming law in this country is strictly limiting operations in that direction, but it is a very open secret that the law is defied by many, and that an army of professional bookmakers enjoy a lucrative income by carrying on thoii business outside the law. One phase of the law as it stands to-day is the prohibitive sections which prevent money being telegraphed to a racecourse, for investment through the Club on tbo legalised betting machine—the totalise tor ; nor must the dividends paid out by the machine be published in the newspapers. Athile Clubs do not 10ceive money by telegraph, and the newspapers do not publish the dii idends, the telephone and telegraph are used freely for illicit betting with bookmakers on events which are catered for by the totalisator, and it is possible according to all accounts to glean from the man in the street early intimation of the dividend paid on any racecourse, though the information may not be published in the newspapers. This is a -farcin! state of affairs, and brings the law into contempt. The prohibition of the law as it stands .today drives business to the professional betting man, and encourages a system of gambling which it is conceivable can easily have' a demoralising effect. Up to a certain point the bookmaker allows credit betting, and this is the easy road to possible catastrophe. It is not possible to prohibit betting altogether. The gambling spirit is very much engrained in human nature, and accepting that- as a fact, it is better to so' regulate the gaming law that betting will be conducted under the best conditions for the moral good of the community. The proposed amendments to the law now before Parliament trend in that direction. In hotting through the totalisator there is a medium which is open and public, and is under Government supervision, safeguarding all interests. The prohibition against telegraphing money to a Club has caused much betting to be driven underground, and evil results have followed all too often. The amendment, seeing that the betting spirit is with us always, is in the right direction, and its enactment will trend for the stricter observance of the law, and for which in regard to gaming, the public will show greater respect. The proposed amendments to the law deal with other phases of gaming, all of which are in the same direction. The measure is sponsored by Sir Edward Mitchelson, a well-known sportsman, who has intimate knowledge of the conduct of race meetings, and who has bad the opportunity of studying very closely the effect of the legislation as it is enforced at present. His experience has prompted him to move in the matter, and as one well qualified bent on improving turf matters, his lead and advice is well worth following. There are those of course unfamiliar with the inner workings and opposed to betting in any form, who are in uncompromising opposition to the legislation, but their attitude is really only helping the professional gamester, and helping to perpetuate evils which it

is the aim of Sir Edward Mitcholson and those associated with him to put down.