ANTI-GAMBLING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8499, 31 July 1907, Page 5

ANTI-GAMBLING.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. LEGISLATION ASKED FOR. A deputation of Wellington citizens, clergymen, members of Parliament, and others interested in the suppresssion of gambling wajted on the Premier (Sir Joseph Ward) at Wellington, yesterday, states the Post, with a request for the imposition of further legislative restrictions on what was represented to be a growing and great evil. The principal cities of the colony were also represented on the deputation. The deputation was introduced by Mr J. G. W. Aitken, who said that the amendments brought down in last year's Bill did not quite meet the desires of the deputation. Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.H R., was the first speaker. Personally, he said, he favoured the abolition of the totalisator. On the whole question of gambling a sentiment was arising which would have to be met. He trusted the Government would legislate speedily and wisely. The Rev. J. J. North said the deputation was disappointed that last year's Bill contained no provision for the abolition of the totalisatoz'. Last year the total investments in the totalisator increased by £200,000, bringing the gross amount from one and a half millions to £1,800,000. This year the total would be over £2,000,000. The double totalisator was the sheerest form of gambling He declared that the vice of gambling was growing at an enormous pace. The Government's efforts to put down gambling while it tolerated the totalisator smacked of hypocrisy. He objected to the provisions of last year's Bill, whereby the Government was given an increased percentage of investments, as well as the proposal to devote part of the proceeds to the maintenance of the aged needy and similar charitable objects. It was also a matter for regret that last year's Bill contained no provision prohibiting the publication by the press of totalisator dividends. Last year the Government issued permits to 302 racing clubs—so he supposed that was the official estimate of the quantity of racing that was good for the country—but 157 unlicensed clubs were carrying on business at the same time. Another member of the deputation, Mr Eagle, wanted something done to prevent gambling in land. The Premier, in the course of his reply, said he was very glad again to have the cpportunity of hearing the views of those who were anxious to see an amendment made in the gambling laws of the colony, and he must necessarily refer to the last meeting as well as the present one. The same ground had been gone over again, and he wanted to say quite frankly that if they expected legislation to be got through, and they wanted everything that, for instance, Mr North proposed, they would only defer legislation for a very long time. They must go as far as it was possible to go and aot expect the impossible. Last year's Bill tried to give effect to what he thought was a tremendous advance, and would include several very important reforms. It did away with street betting, made betting by minors almost impossible, and also limited betting to racecourses. If they got legislation of that sort on the statute book it would, he thought, be a tremendous advance, and was about as much as they could expect to get through. The whole point was whether or not legislation of this character was to be put on the statute book. He was persuaded that if that was to be done they had in the first instance to confine gambling to the racecourse; that would be a tremendous step forward—a tremendous reform. As to the abolition of the totalisator they must recognise that it was not possible to get such a proposal through Parliament; and in that case, lie asked, was it desirable to defer legislation of a general description until it was possible? It was not desirable. They must put advanced legislation on the statute book first. His own opinion was that the racecourses should be cut off from the telegraph system, as they nearly all are now. The Government had a tremendous volume of business to get through, a great deal of it must be got through, but the new Bill dealing with this subject was ready for introduction to the House, and he hoped with the assistance of Parliament to be able to get legislation on the statute book this year. Personally he (Sir Joseph) did not see any harm in a race meeting if it was carried out properiy, and he did not think the spirit referred to could be put down by any desire on his part or the part of the deputation. The legislation proposed would confine betting to the racecourse, and it would effectually prohibit the dissemination of racing news by the telegraph service. Last year he had left the press out of the Bill, because, rightly or wrongly, he wanted the co-operation of the press. They had only to count heads to see how far they could go in these matters. He thought the system of double betting ought to be stopped, and provision for doing this would be included in the Bill already drafted. He wanted to prevent the young people of the country from gamblmg, and he would do his very best to get the Bill through this session. If the j measure did not go as far as those present desired, he hoped it would be recognised that the Bill went as far as possible if success was to be looked for. A proposal for the abolition of the totalisator would not pass the House, but he ventured to say the measure- he had drafted would result in as great—if not a greater -improvement than had been effected in Sydney and Melbourne. If legislation was to be put through the House, impossible proposals would have to be left out of the Bill. He did not mind candidly saying that the proposal in last year's Bill to give one per cent, of the investments to local charities was put in advisedly and with a view to getting the legislation on the statute book. So far as the reference to gambling in lands was concerned, he did not think this '

question could be dealt with in the present Bill. The subject was one for treatment in the Land Bill. The point as to whether anything should be done to prevent newspapers publishing dividends on races could be again put before his colleagues. He believed the newspaper proprietors would do everything they could to improve the present condition of affairs.