CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2652, 6 November 1909, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Correspondence on public matters is welcomed at all times, but it must be distinctly understood that this journal is in no way associated with the opin' ions of its correspondents. AJI letters must be legibly written and inscribed on one side of the paper only, otherwise they will not be published. ‘An asterisk at the foot of a letter indicates that some portion has been excised.J

BOOKMAKERS AND SPIELEDS

[To the Editor.] Sir, —Mr Gaudin’s experience at the' late race meeting is caily one of many similar cases that have occurred. One of the strongest supporters in the passing of that notorious Act legalising, the bookmaker was our worthy member. The passing of this .'Act was adisgrace to the legislators of the Dominion and it should during this session be wiped out. Tt has been a dead letter ever since it was passed as there .is just as much betting going on m the street with the bookies as ever, _ and this Act was suposed to confine it to the racecourse. Since the Act was passed the number of convictions have increased from 142 to 184. The Police Commissioner, Air • Dinnie, in his last report, said: “So attractive has this Act made the country to the criminal class that there has been, an influx ol undesirables from Australia who, undot the shelter of its protecting influence, have made war against the law abiding citizen and swelled the criminal records The racing clubs are not to he blamed _ m this matter. They Are simply carrying out the law as forced upon them by our legislators., The bookmaker is not a member of any philanthropic association, and if he has to pay £lo to illy his calling he must get it out of the public if not by fair means then by foul. I should suggest to Air Gaudm that he .puts his case before our memner the Hon. Jas. Carroll, and when it comes to a vote in the House pei ji.-.ijs he and Mr 'Millar may he inclined to alter their opinion on the Licensing of Bookmakers and Encouragement of Sniders Act. —I am, etc., P “ANTI-GAAIBLER.”

OLD SETTLERS’ ASSOCIATION

, (To the Editoi .1 Sir, —As there is to lie a re-union of old settlers shortly would it not be possible for a committee to be formed from amongst them to, gather, all information for publication of the history or Poverty Bay? Every other district in the Dominion have got and published well authenticated records of the <iilrerent provinces, but there is not any that I have beard of relating to Poverty Bav. As there were Europeans living in'this- district as far back as. 1830 it would be very interesting readin cr to present day settlers to know something of their history. I have heard that Captain Stewart, after whom Stewart Island was named, died and was buried in Poverty Bay. Is there anyone in the district who can confirm this? A history of the Natives should also be written up and publislied. Cannot some of the voung educated Natives see to this before all the cld Tangatas die