§ MR. CHANNINGI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the case of a boy sentenced on Tuesday for embezzling 8s. for use in an automatic gambling machine; and whether he will take steps, by ordering special action by the police, and by the public prosecutor, or if necessary, by legislation, to put a stop to the temptations thus placed in the way of young persons and others.
§ MR. RITCHIEI said in reply to a Question on this subject on the 13th of last month, that the keeping of these machines had been the subject of action by the police. Since that date there have been at least two prosecutions by the Commissioner of Police, resulting in the conviction of the defendants, but in one of them the magistrate agreed to state a case for the consideration of the High Court. The matter is therefore sub judice. I can only say that, if the present law should be found inadequate, I will take care that the question of further measures to deal with this pernicious evil, shall receive consideration.