ANTI-GAMBLING CRUSADE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 867, 19 July 1910, Page 3

ANTI-GAMBLING CRUSADE.

BOOKMAKERS ATTACKED,

Dunedin, July 17

The Mayor of Dunedin presided on Saturday evening over a crowded meeting, when the following resolution was adopted : That this mass meeting of citizens of Dunedin, believing that the vice of gambling has been greatly increased bv the licensing of bookmakers, calls upon the New Zealand Government to take steps to immediately repeal the law under which they are so licensed, and to prohibit all forms of betting by bookmakers throughout the Dominion.

“ That this meeting calls upon the Government to introduce legis : lation this session either to suppress the totalisator to ascertain public opinion thereon by submitting the question to the electors of the Dominion by way ot Referendum.”

THE OTHER SIDE,

Christchurch, July 17

A public petition to Parliament was in circulation here on Saturday protesting against any repeal of section 34 of the Gaming Act, 1908 (wuich directs racing clubs to issue licenses to bookmakers) whilst section 50 of the same Act (authorising the Minister for Internal Affairs to grant licenses to clubs to use the tolalisator for betting on races) remain in force, and praying that in justice to all, the questions of licensing bookmakers and granting of permits to use the tolalisator be embodied in one issue to be placed before Parliament, as, if the abolition of one is considered necessary, then as a natural sequence the other should be abolished also.

As a result of Saturday's canvass several thousand names were attached to the petition.