GAMBLING IN AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1922, Page 3

GAMBLING IN AUSTRALIA.

LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS. Sydney, August 30. Several aspects of gambling have 'been before several of the States of the Commonwealth during the last few days. In New South Wales the Government has just outlined proposals designed to combat the gambling mania. They refer chiefly to promiscuous lotteries and raftles. Steps will be taken in the new Act to restrict the operations of Tattersails Sweeps and the Golden Casket, rhe art union by which the. Queensland Government o'btains money for the upkeep of its hospitals. It will be made an ofience for newspapers to publish the result of these sweeps, the penalty being a fine of £2OO. It is proposed that any penalty imposed by the Act may be recovered in a summary way before any Police Court. The display upon any premises of any information regarding a foreign lottery will be an ofience punishable by a fine of £2OO.

It has been the usual practice for art union and raffle tickets to be eold anywhere and everywere. The new Act will restrict the sale to the bazaar or fair with which the art union is connected.

Drastic provisions for the safeguarding of the public are proposed in the form of a clause that will state |hat anybody concerned in the conduct of a raffle or lottery who converts to his own use any of the prizes or the money raised shall be liable to five years’ imprisonment. A fine of ClOO is provided for anybody who fakes tickets, or is responsible for a lottery being drawn in an unfair manner.

The whole question of gambling has been under idscussion in Victoria, in connect inn with a motion in the Assembly for the introduction of the totalieator at racecources. After an acrimonious debate the proposal was narrowly defeated.

In Queensland the Government is meeting with much criticism because of its illogical attitude in conducting an art union at the same time that it. carries out a persistent campaign against other forms of gambling. as nakapu and