Ban Upon Euchre

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 299, 9 March 1928, Page 13

Ban Upon Euchre

CARD-PLAYERS PROTEST LAW SHOULD BE AMENDED “The Judge had to go back 75 years to find a law to ban euchre. The same law also bans progressive bowls and all progressive games—even a waltz competition. CONTENDING that the ban recently imposed upon euchre tournaments by Mr. Justice Adams in Christchurch, was archaic, and that there was no harm in a game which fostered the social spirit and in no way encouraged gambling, Mr. L. H. Crawford, convener of a meeting of Auckland card players held last evening, expressed the view that an amendment of the law should bo pressed for. The meeting decided to forward resolutions of protest to the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Internal Affairs. Air. Crawford referred to the predicament of a certain school as a result of the ban. It had been built out of funds collected by means of such tournaments. There was still a mortgage on the school and hopes of working it off had vanished. He commented on the fact that tournaments had been stopped in some districts and not in others. JUDGES NOT AGREED Air. N. Bouzaid, who represented 200 players in Onehunga and Te Papapa districts, said that it was not right that the freedom of the people should be hampered by one person, Air. Justice Adams, particularly as the judges themselves were not in agreement as to whether euchre tournaments were illegal. “I have no desire to foster anything of a gambling nature—the Government has a monopoly of that, and is welcome to it,” said the chairman, Mr. A. Nixon. "We will support the Government in its endeavour to stop euchre parties with £lO prizes, but we want to keep our social parties where only small prizes are offered. Euchre has brought a better feeling among the people than all the politicians.” He expressed the view that the legislation should be amended to control euchre parties by stipulating the maximum value of the prizes. A resolution of protest was carried. This expressed agreement with the Government’s desire to eliminate the gambling element, but pressed for the retention of euchre parties for worthy objects, such as school and social funds, where only nominal prizes were offered.