ANTI-GAMBLING MOVEMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 6 August 1907, Page 4

ANTI-GAMBLING MOVEMENT.

A deputation of citizens, clergymen, members of Pat liament, and others interested in the gambling question recently waited on the Premier with a request lor the imposition of further legislative restrictions on what was repiesented to be a growing and great evil. All the principal cities were represented on the deputation. The Premier in reply said that last year’s bill tried to give effect to what he thought was a tremendous advance, and included several very important reforms. It sought to do away with street betting, make betting by minors almost impossible, and limit betting to racecourses. It they got legislation of that kind on the statute book, it would be a tremendous advance. As to the abolition of the totalizator, the deputation must recogrr.se that it was not possible to get such a proposal through Parliament. Was it, then, desirable to defer legislation of a general description? He thought not. He was anxious to do all' in his power to meet the wishes of the deputation, but he recognised that there was a large section of the community that looked upon race meetings as part and parcel of a system which they supported and believed in. Personally he did not see any harm in race meetings if they were carried out properly. He thought the system of double betting should be stopped, and provision to that end would be included in a bill already drafted. He did not mind candidly saying that the proposal in last year’s bill to give one per cent of totalisator investments to local charities was put in advisedly and with a view of getting legislation on the statute book.

A voice : It’s a bad proposal. Sir Joseph Ward : A gentleman behind me says it is bad. I think it is. (blear, hear.) Wecanleave it out of the bill this time. As to the gambling in land which one of the deputation had mentioned, the place lor that was the Hand Bill. The solution was cheap fares and rapid means of communication, so that people could get out of congested areas. Reverting to the main question, the Premier said that some improvements had been made in the bill, and he hoped the deputation would recognise that it was a sincere attempt to deal with the whole question of gambling. The point as to whether anything should be done to prevent newspapers from publishing dividends on races could be again put before his colleagues. He believed the newspaper proprietors would do everything they could to improve the present condition of affairs.