GAMING LEGISLATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 866, 16 July 1910, Page 2

GAMING LEGISLATION.

Mk Nkwman is to be congratulated in bringing down his Bill for the amending of the Gaming Act in respect to abolising the bookmaker by taking away from racing clubs the power to license these gentry. It was a foregone conclusion,however, that Mr Newman’s Bill could not; hope to get past the second reading stage, as the Government had signified its intention of amending the gaming legislation in its programme for this session. Mr Newman’s Bill was practically killed on the amendment for its adjournment being carried. During the course of the debate the Premier remarked : “that what he said last session was that both the totalisator and the bookmaker would go together. He believed they would- He said he thought that proposals in regard to the bookmaker and the totalisator should come from the Government. He proposed to give the House the opportunity to vote ou the totalisator and the bookmaker separately. That was stated in the Speech from the Throne. The House knew that Mr Newman could not get this Bill on the Statute Book, but the Government’s Bill would be presented at the first available opportunity—in lact, it was ready for presentation, but in the meanwhile a junior member of the Opposition had introduced a Bill dealing with the subject. The Leader of the Opposition does not introduce it himself, He gets the junior member to do so.” Mr Massey said Mr Newman had brought down his Bill with his (Mr Massey’s) knowledge and approval. While the Premier is opposed to the bookmaker and totalisator Mr Newman is out to kill the bookie. Mr Newman holds no brief for the totalisator, but he adds that it is a clean way of betting, the lesser of two evils, and does not , give credit to the general public. We hold the opinion that both forms of gambling are immoral and should therefore be wiped out. It is all very well to say that the

bookie is responsible for converting young men into criminals, but can we not with equal reason say the same of the totalisator ? Remove the cause and we remove the effect. Granted that the totalisator is the lesser ot the two forms of gambling, by licensing it the State continues a partmer in an immoral business. Mr Newman has shown considerable moral courage in tackling the bookie independent of the Government and we hope good will come, of the recent debate in the House.

Thk Prime Minister has given notice of his intention to bring down on next sitting day resolutions as under: —

“That in the opinion of this House the provision in the Gaming Act, 1908, relating to the licensing of bookmakers should be repealed.” “That in the opinion of this House the use of the totalisator should be prohibited by law.” “That in the opinion of this House provision should be made by law for the reduction of the annual number of days of racing and also that the number ot totalisator permits issued throughout the Dominion should be reduced by one half.”