BISHOPS and bookmakers are combined in their opposition to the betting tax. The bishops — or, at least, some of them — are convinced that it will encourage vice; the bookmakers are equally convinced that it will kill racing. Both cannot be right, unless the bishops anticipate that, racing being destroyed, worse evils will take its place. The debate on the subject at the London Diocesan Conference suggested the sentimental detachment from reality which is the besetting sin of certain religious persons. Dr. Lyttelton, however, talked sound sense, and Canon Anthony Deane, always the foe of sentimentality, repeated our contention that the betting tax raises no moral issue whatsoever. The voting on the resolution condemning the tax was unquestionably largely influenced by the unusual action of the Bishop, who stated from the chair his intention to vote in favour of it. We are inclined to favour all proposals for the taxation of luxuries, and betting is decidedly a luxury. We do not deny that among the very poor it is also a serious evil. But, as we have said before, the only way to save them from a foolish waste of their money is to provide the dwellers in mean streets with fuller opportunities for higher pleasure and more reasonable thrills.

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