GAMBLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81901, 13 December 1906, Page 3

GAMBLING.

BIK JOSEPH WARD'S DENCXCIA- , TIOX. Napier, Deeenilicr 11. In his speech Lere to-nij:ht. mt Ooseph Ward made some strong remark* on the abnormal growth ot the gambling habit * n J ' ew Zealana ' ??' pecuilly amongst young men. He said:- — 1 wish to make some remarks upon a question of considerable importance to the colonv. It is, I think, generally recognised that the youths of -New i Zealand are not addicted to drink. ( (Applause.) To their credit this stands but most prominently, but from nifor- , matkro that has from time to time reached uie 1 am persuaded that a greater evil than the drink traliie in JJew Zealnd is the abnormal gambling. (Hear, hear.) It is necessary for me (to say that 1 am not alluding to this With the object of attempting to bring Brhat is a great social evil into the arena of party politics—l refer to it entirely from a strict sense of duty, and feel that the necessity exists for j » check being imposed by legislation. {The evil has been growing and has ' reached dimensions that are simply appalling, andunle-s those in responsible positions face this evrl in order to i arrest its growtu it will ultimately . undermine the basis of society in all . Walks of life in this country. 1 feel it is incumbent upon me to stale that while anxious to avoid interfering With the private or business occupations of anyone in our country, where audi a widespreading evil is fixing Ha roots deep into the country's moral fibre something must be done to protect'the younger generation, who, in the years to come .will take our places, from themselves in this matter. A statement made by me aoiue little time ago in Wellington regarding the amount of money forwarded from that city should not, as hu been represented, apply only to Tattersall'e, as 1 nude no such statement. It referred to the amount of money forwarded through all channel.-: |or gambling purposes, and a very considerable proportion of this wa> from /the younger members of the community. I'he advocates of repression are, in my opinion, sugesting what U impracticable. If a true reform in the interests of the country is to be effected it ought to be iu the direction Of CHECKING THE GROWTH

' in suclr A manner a* the general public would support the action being taken. for that rea*on I am of opinion that tbe practical way of bringing about n reform is to recognise that the siiort of horse racing is one that thousand-; of our people, forming all c]n —if- of ftha community, beb-v •■• in: ail tie yho urge that this particular pa-time of a large eeetion of the community -should he prevented from continuing are not lik.lv to attain the greater object thev have in view. The problem is how best to cheek the evil and to aJIoW the legitimate ph-n Mires of a

larae section of the community to b.- ~. ~-I o:t without, injury to the l»nl> -"l. , '.pplausc.) For that rea-ou ' d, after carefully thinking ', „ .liittfi over, that it should 3. ~. criminal to allow Letting on j iscraciiig or investing on the total j ator by anyone under twenty one • fjirs of age. and tlutt tin- spoil "I j.orxraeing should be carried on on iiroper lines with a reduced number .. Meeting* throughout the colony, ami further, thai the backing y/ houses S I,OOM be IH'l-n.itte.i wily on the racecourse. (Applause.. Mf this ts .lornYou would have the -port of lior-c-Jidm? legitimately carried out. and -von would prevent the young J pie Lntil they reach ycais of di-rr.'lion inculcating lh(! early spirit of gambling. !Jlie present -jetei.i of telegraph who fccing used from centres, to evcr.v race meeting tliTi.ii'-'hout the colony -Mould le abolished as well as the publication of totalizator odds. It is nccllcr,- lw me to say that 1 am not attempting t" j pose in any way in this matter. n»r am ; I deairoai of being regarded a- a re former. I recognise, that wliil- no amount of legislation will make -"»"' people fnigal, careful an<l#)hrifty. -til! there are times when the Stat- can assist it» people, and it can do -" in this present instance !>y helping t" Cheek what is undoubtedly a growing eviL An for hor-eraeiiig it-elf, men Will carry it on, and we mn-t help them to carry it on legitimately. - A voice: Abolish the totali.-ator. HfT Joseph Ward: Probably that gentleman may know how to .!•. it. lie T»u-t have a majority in I'nrliamen! . ---M%ho are prepared to do it, and then " ' jou are not going to abolish horsetwing in any respect *■

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