NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 November 1907, Page 7

NEWS AND NOTES.

After we went to press yesterday morning the House dealt with Clause 35 of tho Gambling Bill, which relates to the licensing of bookmakers by racing clubs. • Before deciding whether it should be mandator}' for licenses to bo issued or merely optional, tho Hon. A. R. Guinness moved an amendment with the object of ascertaining whether the House wore for or against tho bookmakers. The amendment was lost by 29 to 24, the decision being in favour of permitting bookmakers on tho courses. Mr. Witty then moved an amendment that the clubs "may" instead of "shall" license bookmakers, but the amendment was lost by 29 to 27.. (At this stage a number of bookmakers who had occupied the Speakers' galleries throughout the. afternoon and night took their departure). . Clause 35 was then read by 28 to 27 —a Government majority of oho vote. This was tho last clauso in tho Bill. Mr. Davey moved a new clauso as follows:—"It shall be tho duty of all racing clubs using the'totalisator to pay out (after deducting the usual 10 per cent, commission), by way of dividond, all .suras received from investments on tho •totalisator; provided that, it shall not be necessary to pay out fractions of a shilling other than one-half." This was carried by 27 to 25.. Mr. Davey then moved to reduce tho racing' days on which tho totalisator should be used by one-sixth of tho present numbor. Mr. Davoy oxplained that this; would mean ono race day a week less. The clause was' carried by 30 to .23.- The Bill was then reported, and tho' amendments wore agreed to. Mr. Lawry called for a division on the third reading, the result of which was—for 41, against G. /

Tho clause in the Gaming.and Lotteries Bill, making it mandatory \for racing clubs tising the totalisator' to liconso bookmakers, was tho subject of considerable correspondence between members and officers of racing clubs beforo the Bill was passed yesterday. Tho opinion is that no option will now bo ■left to tho clubs, and that any bookmaker, by paying tho fco, can gain adm.ittan.co, because the onus of proving the applicant for permission is not a fit and proper person will rest with the. club. Yesterday morning tho Loader of . tho Opposition received a telegram from the • Hon! E. Mitchelson (Auckland), asking if tho clause was made optional or mandatory.

Tho divisions on tho various • amendments that were proposed .to the clause in tho Gaming -Bill, relating to tho licensing of bookmakers by racing clubs, were all very 'aloso. The clause unamended was finally ,'passed by only onovoto. Somo mild excitement was displayed in tho Chamber during tho taking of tho votes, and members were observed rounding' up and hardening ono or two who seemed inclined to waver. Mr. Davoy, when tho result of the vote was an'nounced, asked if it was right for members to indicate-to other'membors how to vote, and if it was allowable. The Chairmnn of • Committees; however, had nothing to say.

A number of amendments to tho Native Land Bill made' in tho Legislative Conned were reported to the House yesterday. Mr. Massoy said tho Bill, if the amendments were agreed to, would"apply to Nativo land all over the Dominion.' Private alienation could be prohibited at any time by order of tho Governor in Council. That was an injustice, becauso arrangements for salo may havo been mado. . (Tho Minister: Those cases are provided- for). Mr. Massey also objected to tho now provision applying the Crown land area limitations to Native lands. It would depreciate value and retard settlement. Ho recognised it was useless going against a majority, but if these provisions .had been in tho Bill itself its passage would not have been so easy. The Minister replied that it was necessary something should be dono to prevent interference with tho investigations of the Commission by private dealings in the meantime. Tho amendments wore passed.

The Hutt Park, Bill was yesterday amended in the. House of Representatives by incorporating the Borough of Eastbourne with those of Potono and Lower Hjitt m matters of control.