Review of Reviews, 1111/06. 



What the Law Gan Do. 



553 



tically has the effect of limiting betting to race- 

 courses. Some of us would be glad if it went fur- 

 ther, but heartily welcome what has been done as 

 an instalment of reform. Before this Act was 

 brought in, there was in certain parts of Sydney a 

 perfect nest of bookmakers and others of the gamb- 

 ling fraternity. Facilities for gambling existed on 

 every hand. In one street in Sydney, while races 

 were going on, I have seen one part round the 

 bookmakers' shops so densely thronged that the 

 trams had even to stop. A more evil-looking, evil- 

 speaking and evil-smelling crowd it would be im- 

 possible to conceive of. The very riff-raff of the 

 city had gathered there. The same thing now would 

 be practically impossible. On the day that the Act 

 was passed, the bookmakers' shops closed up and 

 these gambling facilities ended. Here is the result 

 of it all as given by iNIr. C. G. Wade, the Attor- 

 ney-General of New- South Wales, who piloted the 

 Anti-Gambling Bill through the House, when he 

 spoke at a public meeting a short time ago. He 

 said: — 



He believed the Government had only stnirk the blow in 

 t"me. In tlie lieart of Sydney there had been a perfect nest 

 of evil, whicli was bringing the boys and youths into enslav- 

 ing temptation, and keeping their minds in a perpetual state 

 of excitement. The first thought of many was centred on 

 the question, "What are the odds?" and the last was of 

 their employer's interests. There was fast developing a class 

 of younj? person with no desire to work or improve himself, 

 and his great wish was to become rich without working. 

 Whatever complaints were made against the .\ct, it could 

 be said that street-betting, which was an absolute curse three 

 weelia ago, had now ceased in Sydney. On one day three 

 weeks ago no less than 7C00 persons had been counted going 

 down Bank-lane, and they could have had only one purpose. 

 The thoroughfare was now absolutely empty, and that, too, 

 without any harsh efforts on the pait of the police. The 

 Chinese, who had thwarted the police for years, had packed 



up their traps and gone to China. Victoria or New 

 Zealand. In one place, before the Act came into opera- 

 tion, the inmates had understood the preparation of 

 fortifications as well as the defenders of Port Arthur, and 

 barbed wire, iron bars, and barricades blocked the entry of 

 the police. When an entrance was gained, the inmates had 

 gone, and there was no evidence to show that gambling had 

 been carried on. During the last few weeks, however, there 

 had been on sale at the Haymarket odd assortments of 

 barbed wire, iron bare, and other material. The success of 

 the measure was proved by results, and without being too 

 drastic, it would fiee the State of street and shop betting. 



Other States in the Commonwealth need drastic 

 legislation just as badly as Sydney, and it will be 

 well if the community recognises the enormous 

 power that it holds in its hands to assist in the 

 regeneration of society and the uplifting of the in- 

 dividual by wise legislation. No one pretends to say 

 that legislation is going to take the place of home 

 training and of mind and heart culture, but Acts 

 of Parliament are absolutely necessary in order to 

 safeguard the growing interests of the community 

 by repressing evil and allowing the freest and 

 fullest opportunity for the growth of good. 



" Use moral suasion," say the opponents of re- 

 form, while at the same time they do everything 

 to prevent the efficiency of moral suasion. There 

 is no need for them to say " use moral suasion." 

 Those who cry for legislative assistance are the 

 verv people who do use moral suasion, and who 

 are' quietly educating the people with regard to 

 right living ; but they know how hopeless it is to use 

 moral suasion when the laws of the country give 

 everv facility to the wrong-doer; and when they 

 clamour for legislative reform they simply ask that 

 the country may have an opportunity for moral 

 suasion to have free course and to be glorified. 



Next month ue shall publish a thrilling article, describing Mr. W. T. Stead's visit to a London 

 Music Hall and his impressions thereon. 



More interest is being taken e\erv month in the ideals of "The Review of Reviews," and I am 

 grateful to the friends who have sent me the names of friends who they think will be interested in 

 them, and in a magazine of such literary worth as "The Review." If any reader has friends (and 

 who has not?) interested in social ideals,' will they please send their names, that we may send them a 

 sample copy. 



ir >(iu are wishful to help in social reform, ask us also to send you a copy of "How to Help." 



Will any of our readers who feel enthused enough after reading " The Book if the Month," 

 to desire to help in the project that Mn Stead there sets out, please write to me. 



I shall also be glad if any of our readers interested in any local effort made to promote social 

 reform, to educate and elevate the people, will write me a short account of it, that other folk in 

 other places may get inspiration and ideas. W. H. Judkins, " Review of Re\-iews," Equitable Building. 



