THE PROPOSED STATE LOTTERY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5071, 8 July 1895, Page 2

THE PROPOSED STATE LOTTERY.

THE REV. J. DUKES' OPINION.

Last evening, inclement thonglnt was, a fairly large congregate assembled in the Weslcyan CirarflQ'?< when the Rev. John Dukes, in an able address upon the proposed Lottery Bill in connection with the Now Zealand Estates Company,dealt with the evil effects of gambling in every form, and the threatened National dishonor likely to be wrought upon the Colony by the State sanctioning and permitting bo pernicious a Bill to become law, one which, in his opinion, was degrading to the morals of overy adult man and womau in tho Colony. The speaker said that overy person in tho Colony, who did not attempt to 1, l grapple with and prevent this measure being passed by tho State, was giving it their moral support. Ho would like to know how many of the Maatorton constituents had, in any way, approached the representative of their district, or tho Premier, asking him to stay his hand in tho mailer. Acting upon advice from the Editor of the connoiional journal (the Adwmk), tho speaker had written to Mr Hogg, MH.R, m£, the matter, and received from hiM reply which did credit to that gentleman's heart and mind, stating, as it did, that he, as our representative would give the Bill his most strenuous opposition. The Premior, to whom he was not going tocontribute an iota of blame, or accuse of having any interest or hand in tho drafting ' of this Bill, had recently stated wheu approached on the question, that it was time enough to speak on tho matter when the Bill was before tho House; but had he not said thesamo in connection with the Gaming Act, wheu proposed, and had it not sinco become law ? Yet he hoped that the Premier, who only in July of last year, spoke of the gambling evil as the curse of the Colony and her people, would not avowedly contra- f diet so good a statement and expression of feeling by aiding this Lottery Bill to becomo law, Whilst many people would not openly slake their money in totalisator odds, upon a public racecourse, they would not probably hesitate to invest a fow pounds in a lqijfcy which gave them tho gaining a farm. There were obvious reasons why this was so, as a lottery, sanctioned by the State, outwardly , appeared to be an honest transaction, and cainc within tho speculation of the home circle, though when gone into thoughtfully, it was gambling pure and simple, which in time led to more public aud open methods of gambling, amongst the people. The Government, during the past year, had derived revenue to tho amount of £IO,OOO, out of the takings of the lotalisators throughout tho Colony, and this, at per cent, on the total, meant that no less than three- V i|uarters of a million (£750,000), had in one year been put through the totalisators in New Zealand; truly, a marvellous sum, when one considered the persistent cry of hard times. It was no use crying about hard timos, when so great a sum was spent on gambling alone, lie also noticed that no less than 56 churches, in New Zealand, applied for licenses to hold lcßry rallies' under the Gamine; Act. This < was a shameful proceeding, and he was only sorry that the names of such churches as had applied, were notmado public, but ho had not the slightest hesitation in saying that, amongst that number, thero would not be found that of a Bingle Methodist body, not even from Hokianga to the Bluff, and shame on those which had applied. In conclusion, ho would say, that nover I had tho Presbyterians and the Methodists been brought so closely together, us on the present gambling question, aud ho could inform thorn, that on tho evening in question (Sunday), every church throughout New Zealand, representing these two bodies, would put the feelings of its people to tho test, on this present question. He would submit tho following resolution, to the congregation present, which if approved of, he would kindly ask them to give <* assent to it, by rising for a moment or two, so that ho would be able to slate the foelings of his people, iu presenting tho petition to filament : *

I "Ik congregation rasliipping in tiio : Wcslcynu Church, Masterton, has heard with deep regret that a proposal is about to be made to the House o£ Representatives to legalize tho disposal of certain Bank Properties by moans of ut gigantic lottery. Moving that consont J to the same would develop the already existing gambling mania, and be detn. menial to public morals, this congregation earnestly desires the Government (o reject the proposal."

About four-fifths of the congregation stood up. Mr Hogg's words with reference to the Bill wero :

"you can be perfectly satisfied that asj'ar as lam concerned any proposal to dispose of the Globo Assets Company ) or any other institution, by lottery, will have my active opposition. I can hardly think that the present administration would entertain such a scheme, and I hope for the sake of those I haveloyally supported in tbo past, that the rumour is quite unfounded."