Presbytery Objects to Gaming Proposals

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 723, 24 July 1929, Page 1

Presbytery Objects to Gaming Proposals

“INCREASING EVIL” PUBLIC EXPENDITURE The movement to have racing dividends published in newspapers in New Zealand was protested against by the Auckland Presbytery yesterday afternoon. In connection with the amendments proposed concerning the Gaming Act, the Presbytery passed a resolution deploring the proposals to increase ’facilities for gambling. XJnder the amendments, racing dividends would be published and the telegraph service thrown open for the transmission of bets. The Presbytery strongly urged the rejection of the proposals as they tended to increase the growing evil of gambling and would not, remedy the notorious evil of bookmaking. The Rev. I). C. Herron considered that the moral forces of New Zealand should realise that gambling was the worst moral evil to be faced. Through the totalisator, the community was gambling to the extent of £8 a head. In the last 29 years gambling had increased fourteen-fold. In 1926, races were held on 326 days, and over £8,500,000 went through the totalisator. Decrease tn the facilities for gambling should be demanded. That bookmakers were carrying on business as regularly as tea merchants was the view of the Rev. G. Budd. They could be seen in public places, but there was no public alarm over the position. At the suggestion of the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh, it was decided to set apart a t ffne for discussion at the next meeting of Presbytery.