Friday, April 28, 2006

As reported by the Wanganui Chronicle: Rangitikei District Council has
thumbed its nose at the New Zealand Problem Gambling Foundation. "The
council yesterday resolved to confirm its existing policies on gambling and
TAB venues without change, unmoved by the foundation's criticisms of some
aspects of the policy. "The PGF had suggested that the current policy was
too weak in the areas relating to the merging of chartered clubs and in
defining specific purposes for some venues where gambling machines might be
located near areas where food and drink were on sale and therefore where
children might be present.

"While council chief executive Leigh Halstead hinted that he might like some
discussion on those issues and perhaps for changes to be made, councillors
generally dismissed the Foundation's assertions as 'minor . pedantic and
semantic'."