SPREAD OF GAMBLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1919, Page 7

SPREAD OF GAMBLING.

CHURCH AND MILITARY CAMPS. INFLUENCE ON YOUTHS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. At the Baptist Union Conference today it was reported that the Executive Committee had decided to offer the position of Union Secretary to the present Secretary, the Rev. R. S. Gray. He, however, asked for time to consider the matter. Pastor Lascelles moved that Mr Gray be asked to accept the position, the matter to be referred back to the committee with power to act. This was carried. It was resolved that the next conference be held at Auckland. The Rev. J. J. North was elected union preacher for the next conference. He was also appointed editor of the Baptist. i The following resolution was carried: —(1) That the Baptist Union of New Zealand regards with apprehension the growth of gambling in this community. It looks on last year's totalisator investment exceeding £5,000,000 as nothing other than a public reproach. The Union notices the attempts being made to enlarge facilities for totalisator gambling by increasing race days and by instituting double totalisators, and by legalising telegraphic investments in the machines. The Union believes the attempt ought to be resisted and steps ought everywhere to be taken to restrict totalisator gambling. (2) The Union calls on the Government to fulfil its intentions of existing legislation by re* fusing to allow betting telegrams to go through the telegraph office and to put all legal machinery in operation against bookmakers. The following resolution was carried: This Conference is opposed to the proposal to put youths into military training camps for a period of four months and declares it will taie all lawful means to prevent any such proposals becoming law. The union believes the present territorial system ought to be reviewed with a view to modification. During discussion the territorial and camp system was adversely criticised by some of the delegates and in the course of reply to these criticisms the Rev. R. S. Gray, the Union Secretary, said: I want emphatically to dissent from the statement that the military, system made blackguards and larrikins of boys. An official told me that laneuage was filthier of those hoys who did not attend camps, but hung around corners. To say the majoritv of officers are not fit to associate with boys is to malign the officers. While lam deeply in sympathy with the idea of destroying militarism I hope you will proceed wisely. Sir James Allen is a Christian gentleman who advocated (the bringing of moral influeves to bear on the men. I hope there will be no charges against men who are doing their best. Some of them served us in the greatest crisis in history." Christchurch, Last. Night. At the evening session of the Baptist Union the Rev. Stanley .Tenkin (Wanganui) was elected preident and the Rev R. S. Gray secretary and treasurer.