THE LEGALISED BOOKMAKER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10037, 11 July 1910, Page 3

THE LEGALISED BOOKMAKER.

RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE MASTERTON METHODIST CHURCH. At the usual service in the Methodist Church yesterday morning, the Rev. C. E. Porter read the following letter from the secretary of the Wellington Citizens' Anti-Gambling League, in connection with the proposed deputation to the Prime Minister protesting against tha legalised bookmaker: — "Dear Sir,—This country is grievously afflicted by two gambling curses: The old curse of_the totalisator, and the new curse of the licensed bookmaker. Sir Joseph Ward has promised to subject the totalisator to the referendum. Against the legalised bookmaker widespread indignation burns. The Press is unanimous against it. Judges and tha police have spoken plainly enough for the deafest Government to hear. The condition of things is gross in Ihs extreme. None who love their country , dare be silent. Sir Joseph Ward is { receiving a deputation, which we expect to number 1,000, on Monday week, the 18th inst., at noon. We agk you to rouse interest m your town on this issue. Will you secure the congregations and public bodies?, Chambers of Commerce and Trades Councils, and the like, to pass resolutions calling the Government to immediately suppress the bookmaker and to forward these resolutions: First: To your local Press. Second: By letter or wire to us to as to reach us before noon on the 18th. , If, too, you could appoint, or sanction us to appoint, some represenia- ( tive of your town on the deputation i it would he a great help.—Trusting : in your co-operation for the people's i sake, Yours, J. G. W. AIJKEN, ' President; J. J. NORTH, secretary Wellington Citizens' Anti-Gambling League." Mr Porter then put the following resolution to 'the congregation:— "That this congregation views with alarm the prevalence of the gambling evil throughout the Dominion. It is shocked at the thought of the widespread moral degradation it is producing. It desires to earnestly support the Anti-Gambling League m its effort to induce the Government to introduce legislation abolishing the bookmaker during the present session of Parliament." This was carried unanimously, and will be forwarded to the Rev. J. North.