WAR ON BOOKMAKERS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1929, Page 3

WAR ON BOOKMAKERS

DISCUSSION BY AUCKLAND CHURCH COUNCIL.

AUCKLAND, June. 2!)

A State anti-gambling offensive directed solely against bookmakers was urged at a meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations.

Sponsoring a motion, “That the council considers the first obligation of the Government in amending tli;; Gaming Act is to legislate for tli > obliteration of the bookmaker, and that it regards the immunity enjoyed by these criminals as inimical to the national well-being and a reproach to any Government which, by inaction, suffers them to continue,” the Rev J. J. North said it was astonishing that any. Minister of the Crown should have .expressed bis willingness to restore gambling facilities which bis loader had curtailed. . It must have astonished a great many people that a '-Minister was ready to afford more facilities to the newspapers and the racing clubs when jic was silent with regard to the bookmakers. In a general attack on bookmakers, Mr North said they were operating in defiance of the law, and it was notorious that a combination of them was in existence as an association. They had boasted they had some politicians “in their pockets.” They had their agents in every town. They “squared” juries and were ready to contaminate the {police 'force. Mr North also classed bookmakers as parasites.

After stating lie had a list of Auckland bookmakers and their addresses. Mr North said they could he sihv prossed by the Government if it so desired by four simple measures. The hearing of charges against them should 'oe withdrawn from juries. - procedure regarded with approval by the Law Society. Thev should be refused the use of all public services in the way of telephones, telegraphs and the Post Office.

“The landlords should also be made to smart.” Mr North continued. “Convicted bookmakers should be made impossible as tenants, in any office or property. \ Convicted bookmakers should also be required to simply the police with prime facie evidence that they are not idle and disorderly persons, and everv now and again with evidence of the fact that, thev arc engaged in legitimate business.”

“I must strongly dissociate nivsolf from the remarks that have boon made;’’ said tbe Rev A. Russell A Merton. “To say that bookmakers are criminals is a- sheer misuse of the word. To call them- parasites is nonsense. If tlie law has been brought into contempt, in the manner described, it apparently has not the support of the people and the legislation is ahead of its time.”

Tt was urged by several;'speakers that the Gaming Act said that any person who carried on as a. bookmaker was guilty mf a crime, and hence the term “criminal” was a correct one.

The Rev Gordon Roll said lie was in favour of exterminating the bookmaker if that wore possible. They should try to educate the people to the seriousness of gambling, and they should call on the Government to abolish the total isator.

The motion was carried, Air A Horton dissenfing.