ANTI-GAMBLING LEAGUE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1076, 30 July 1912, Page 3

ANTI-GAMBLING LEAGUE

AND RACING PERMITS

Wellington, July 27,

An open letter to the Premier, the fiou. W. F. Massey, signed by Mr j. W. Aitkeu (president) and the Rev J. J. North (secretary), on behall of the associated Anti-Gambling Leagues of New Zealand, appears in the morning papers.

They regret the Government proposes to . evade the responsibility by relegating the question ot the number of race clays to private members, and state that “when the bill lor which you have promised a clear run appears we will take the opportunity of letting you and the general public know our mind concerning it.” The letter proceeds to argue that alteration is deraauued neither by press nor public, but solely by the outcries ot interested parties ; that the number of days is in the same proportion as in New south Wales; that the totalisator gives horse owners revenues tar in excess ot loose in Victoria, ana mat the totaiisator investments have reached the alarming figure 01 £3 per head of the population, against" £1 in South Australia. The letter also scouts the argument about encouraging the breed ot horses, and suggests that that can be secured by withdrawing the permits trom clubs which encourage short distance racing.