I express my opinion that there are no efficient means of controlling this evil except by farming licensing Gambling Houses.
My Predecessor in his Despatch No. 84 of the 22nd November sanctioned the placing of gambling Houses under a system of supervision by license or otherwise, provided that such a measure was not treated as a matter of Police, but of Revenue. In that view I entirely concur.
The licence Fee should, in my opinion, be limited to such an amount as would be fully enough to cover all expenses of issuing Licenses, of supervision, and of all Police arrangements caused by the Licensed houses, and made in connection with them, or which may be rendered necessary by the licensing system being introduced to the Colony.
But notwithstanding the advantages which you anticipate would arise from such a measure, I cannot approve of the suggestion, in which you state that your Council concurs.