The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 234, 12 September 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.

The subject of consultations has again been brought before the Legislature by Mr. Hart who moved that there be laid on the table a return of the total number of money orders issued by the Postoffice during June and July, 1884. to a number of sweep promoters specified by the mover. The return will be an interesting one, although it will entail a considerable amount of work and will take some time to compile. Mr. Hart must, however, be a simpleton indeed if he imagines that consultations can be prevented by an Act of Parliament or in any other way. The promoters of the Gaming and Lotteries Act were under the impression that that measure would prevent sweeps and betting, but no sane person who has studied the subject at all imagines there is one whit the less betting and gambling done now than there was before the Act came into force. It is admitted even by members of the Legislature that people will gamble and will invest in consultations, even although they be called by any other name. This being the case then, why do the Government not legalise consultations, but insist that they shall be carried on under Government supervision. By such a means sufficient funds could be raised to support all the charitable institutions in the Colony and no hardships would be inflicted on anyone. The number of private persons who promote sweeps is not large. Mr. Wilson wished to have it made penal to insert advertisements relating to sweeps in newspapers. Can anyone be foolish enough to imagine that five thousand different ways could not be devised for making known the fact that sweeps were open and where the promoters were to be found. We feel very sorry for them if they are. No doubt their proper place is in the Legislative Council. By way of reply Mr. Hart remarked that a public office should not be prostituted for the purpose of promoting consultations. Prostituted indeed ! The Postoffice money order department was instituted, we always thought, not only as a convenient means for the conveyance of small sums from place to place, but also for the purpose of adding something to the revenue. Mr. Hart’s notion of prostituting a public office appears rather vague. We are not in favor of encouraging gambling propensities, but what can't be cured must be endured, and while people will continue to bet or engage in consultations, which they will do in spite of any law that can be made, their propensity might just as well be made to contribute to the funds of the State. We shall await the production of the return asked for before proceeding further.