Of The Pacific!'

Honiaria; 'Monte Carlo Of The Pacific!'

From a Honiara Correspondent

A big increase in native gambling following its legalisation recently is causing serious concern in Honiara. The critics are now calling this town the u Monte Carlo of the Pacific

GAMBLING with dice among natives is now in the open and big dice schools of up to 60 people are being held frequently in Honiara labour lines, with large amounts changing hands. Gambling on a less organised scale is going on in plan tations and villages throughout the Protectorate.

Solomon Islanders have always been gamblers, but with their legal freedom they are hitting it hard.

Wagers of up to £5 are being made and wins of more than £3O often occur in a night. Mr. K. H.

Dalrymple-Hay, governing director of Mendana Enterprises, which owns the Hotel Mendana, says one native in two days is reported to have won £1,500, and another who had just received £l5O for his copra lost the lot, “plus the new white calico which he was wearing when he entered the school”.

“The gambling goes on to daylight, and the natives are too tired to work and those who do come in are pop eyed and useless,” said Mr. Hay.

Mr. Hay said local gambling now had to be seen to be believed.

“The Bishop of Melanesia said in the Legislative Council that people could become ‘poker machine ad dicts’ but apparently he did not think they could also become ‘dice addicts,” said Mr. Hay.

"Thriving"

Bishop D. Styvernberg, of the Catholic Mission, said he felt the new legislation was premature and too liberal. Gambling was now thriv ing throughout the Protectorate.

The latest developments follow operation of the Gaming and Lot teries Act, which was passed in the Legislative Council in June.

The Government explained, when introducing the bill, that its motive was to remove discrimination against natives. The old law had prohibited islanders from gambling but left everyone else virtually free to do as he pleased. The bill would make the law the same for everybody.

The bill, when introduced, per mitted the continued use of poker

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machines, but only in private places.

The bill made it legal for everybody to gamble in many other ways sub ject to certain conditions, including the fact that the game had to be equally favourable to all players, that

all stakes had to be returnee; players as winnings and that no ( ment was required for a persoc take part in a game.

The bill was passed, withri amendment proposed by the Bii of Melanesia, Rt. Rev. A. T. which outlawed the poker macH The Government and most menn supported this amendment, but! not object to the other sections..; As a result of the defeat oti poker machine section, the made were removed from the barn Honiara’s two hotels and fronn Guadalcanal Club, Honiara, Auki Club, Malaita ( PIM, lull 21).

There was an outcry, as the m ines were being used only by I peans, but now many of those ; supported the gambling section the bill are obviously having s© thoughts about the results in direction.

“This time Gubmin ’e stopim 1 man, ’e lettim boy!” is the vies many Melanesians around towni that they can throw dice, butj Europeans can’t pull the arm poker machine!

Bishop Hill recently deliven lengthy sermon about the evili gambling.

Francis Bugotu, MLC, who inspector of Melanesian Mil schools, said he was personally concerned about the state of tt as a result of the new gambling “I do not think anyone shoull satisfied with things as they ares I feel that something must be in the immediate future,” he sail Mr. E. V. Lawson, MLC (whr not support the anti-poker mae amendment) said there had ah been gambling in Honiara but was heard about it now that of it had been legalised. ; islanders were doubtless losing than they could afford but there nothing new about this.

“But it is ridiculous to have the slot machine in the Guadall Club illegal and allow what amr practically to uncontrolled ganrt elsewhere,” he said.

A leading Honiara storekeeper!

A. J. Blum, said trade had not i affected by the new law. “The I spend less but the winners s more!” he said.

Legal dice gambling in houssj now the apex of entertainment! the natives. The most popular! game is simple but sudden. Pl(‘ back numbers one, two, or t against numbers four, five, anoi with the minimum stake at as although sometimes wagers of v £5 are made.