New-York tribune., 1906-12-03
AGAINST GAMBLING IN AUSTRALIA

The antipodal continent used to have the
reputation of being free and easy land That
was indeed its character once, but It is so no
longer. On the contrary, the commonwealth
has Of late begun to set the world some nota-
bic examples of sobriety and circumspection,
none perhaps more notable than the rigid and
remorseless suppression of gambling which the
state of New South Wales has Just decreed.
The three phases of the evil against which
legislative and administrative rigors have been
directed are gambling dens, horse race pool
rooms and betting by minors. 1t Is apparently
neld by Australians, it Is by some else
"nere mat betting is an inseparable and es-
sental accompaniment of horse racing and
since they do not want to give I'D racing aIto-
gether, they have made an exception to the
antl-gambllng law in favor Of bona fde race-
tracks But they insist that all betting on the
races snail be done within the Enclosures of
registered tracks and under certain strict con-
dltlons Moreover to prevent the multiplied
tion Of tracks for gambling purposes it is pro
vlded that no track shall be licensed the cir.
cumference of which Is less than six furlongs
ana the number Of days of racing On each track
ID each year is strictly limited to from fifteen
TO twenty-four, according to location. For hold
ing unauthorized races there is a fine of not
less than $500. Also. to prevent betting on
the races elsewhere than at the tracks it is
forbidden, under heavy penalty, to publish in
newspapers or otherwise, the odds on any
race before 1T has actually been run. Betting
by or with minors is prohibited on racetracks
as elsewhere.
Under such conditions alone can the citizens
of New South Wales now indulge their taste
for betting or gambling. Betting otherwise In
any form, in public or in private. on foot races.
horse races, bicycle races automobile races
boat races, ball games, or indeed anything
else, Is absolutely forbidden and any one who
makes books engages in betting as O.
business Is subject to a fine of $500 for the
first offence and to six months Imprisonment
for the second. As for gambling dens. on the
affidavit Of any police officer showing reason
able grounds for suspecting that any room,
house, field or other place is used for making
bets any judge of the Supreme Court may de-
clare the place to be a gaming house and then
any person found In It, or entering or leaving
it may be arrested without warrant and, I'M
less he can prove that he was engaged In
lawful occupation, he must be, the prima
facie evidence of his having been at the for
hidden place sentenced to q term in jail. with
out the option of q fine. If the owner Of such
place does not serve upon his gambling tenant
notice of eviction, he becomes subject to a
heavy fine. Nor is it necessary to prove that
gambling or betting actually carried in
any place, but the existence of implements for
games of chance, of special bolts and bars
for the exclusion of those attempting ingress.
Of apparatus for giving alarm on the ap-
proach of the police, is held to be ample proof
OF Illicit practices.
Some of these provisions might seem excep-
tionally severe in New York. There can be
little doubt that they would be effective If
every man seen entering or leaving any place
suspected of being a of gambling were
subject TO summary arrest without warrant
and to Imprisonment without option Of fine.
there would be something like a reign Of terror
among both "gilded youths" and 'sports." If
iron plated doors. special bolts and chains,
peepholes and electric "buzzers" We're COM
pete proofs of the criminal use of places, and
If the landlord of every such place were sub
ject 10 heavy fine, there would be fewer
gambling dens and poolrooms In this town.
We shall watch the operation Of the New South
Wales statute with interest.