In the period between the two world wars, the Protestant churches were a powerful political lobby group. They were strongly opposed to the liquor trade, gambling, and the organisation of secular events on Sundays. The Rev. Harry Woollacott was the superintendent of the Methodist Social Service Department from 1937 and director of the United Churches Social Reform Board from 1939. Woollacott was a skilled lobbyist and had some success in encouraging church-going Methodists with these same opinions to stand for pre-selection in country electorates. In 1933 the government set up a Betting Control Board, and despite strong opposition from the churches, a Royal Commission four years later recommended no change to this legalised gambling. However, the outbreak of war in 1939 provided a lever for arguing that precious resources were being wasted on gambling. Strict restrictions were imposed including a complete ban on horseracing between 1942 and 1943. The restrictions continued until a 1965 referendum saw overwhelming support for the establishment of a State Lottery, followed by the extension of hotel opening hours to 10 pm in 1967, marking a waning of the churches' influence in this area.

Playford, Thomas, Sir, 1896-1981

Woollacott, E.H. (Ernest Henry)

O'Neill, Bernard, Judith Raftery and Kerrie Round, eds. Playford's South Australia: essays on the history of South Australia 1933-1968, Adelaide: Association of Professional Historians, 1996