Bishop Welldon expressed the opinion that those people who were totally opposed to betting were enemies to reform. They estranged the great body of modern Christian opinion, and without that body of opinion re-forts could not be carried out.
Have you found that betting is prevalent al} over the country and among all classes of the community?
"Yes," replied Bishop Welldon, "but I do not know that it is very prevalent among the clergy." (Langhter.)
The witness said he thought if a duty were placed on betting the facilities for betting would he diminished and the practice of betting would be conducted on more honourable terms. He described the suggestion that a tax on betting meant State recognition as "all humbug."
"I take it you do not bet," was the question put by Mr. Wilson.
The Bishop: I once had a bet on settling at Eton. That is the only bet 1 ever made in my life.
Answering Sir George Hamilton, Bishop Welldon said he had been headmaster of Dulwich College and Harrow School, where he found a tendency to bet even among the boys. All his efforts to suppress it did not fully succeed.
Canon Peter Green, of Manchester, spoke of the extensive betting which was practised in mines, workshops, mills, and working men's clubs, which seriously affected the output of commerce.
He expressed the opinion that betting was responsible for 90 per cent. of the reduction in the na-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.