We record with no small satisfaction that the Home Secretary,
in answer to a deputation composed of news- Paper editors and proprietors which waited upon him on Thursday, stated that it was the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to put an end to the grave evils caused by gambling competitions in newspapers. In our opinion, not Only are competitions in which entrance-money is required Open to all the objections to other forms of gambling, but they have exercised a degrading influence upon the Press, and have deflected newspapers from their true function of providing news and comment upon news. The feeling that if newspapers become obsessed by competi- tion-mongering they are spoilt as newspapers is, we are sure, widely held in the profession, and we do not doubt that reasonable legislation fairly enforced will win the approval of almost the whole Press,—inoluding many news- papers which, owing to the stress of competition, have been reluctantly dragged into the whirlpool of competitions.
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