GATING PROPOSALS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 876, 23 July 1910, Page 6

GATING PROPOSALS.

FURTHER DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. NUMBER OF RACING DAYS. ■■ AJftENDEB. RESOLUTION CARRIED. ;The discussion on the gaming proiposal3 was continued in the House of ißepresentatives 'yesterday. On the ' previous evening, "it will be -remembered, a. motion adverse to the existence' of the licensed bookmaker was passed, by 69 to i. The proposal that tho use of tho totalisator ■ should be prohibited by 'law was,.'however, rejected by 40 votes to 32. Subsequently tho House commenced :.to. discuss a proposal that the .'■ number. of . racing days and totaiisator j permits should be reduced by one-half. Mr.' Davey, however, 'moved as an amendment that the days of racing be reduced only by. one-sixth. At ■' this stage the debate was adjourned.

.■The/Prime Minister stated yesterday that -if Mr.. Davey would withdraw his amendment he would amend the resolution to the effect that;the law be altered ■to provide for a reduction in the number of days of racing and ,tho number of totalisator permits. The ratio of the reduction, he added, might well be.left over until •. the Bill, was under consideration. He hoped that the Bill would be ready for presentation to the House in a week or ten days. ,Mr. Davey (Cbristchurch East) agreed to withdraw his amendment. . Mr. ,'Herries (Tauranga). said he .did not. admit that a reduction in ■ tho totalisator permits was necessary, but he would consent to the resolution provided he ./retained, his freedom to vote as he liked•;on the Bill when brought down. He suggested that the Prime-Minister should give, an . opportunity to representatives of the racing .clubs,to place their views before hini. Sir Joseph assented to Mr. ■Herries's request.- Ho. said.ho.idid.not.think a workable basis of a. Bill conld . be ■.. arrived at'in the House, and it would be better to. have the discussion on the Bill. , The representatives ; of the racing clubs: would have an; opportunity, to make-'.- such representations as they desired. ..■ ■ . .■ r . :.'...... ■"■

■:. Mr. T. -E.--'. Taylor, (Christehurch North), said that there was,, far. too much ■racing. He agreed ; that. .Committee iva-s the proper place .to fix - the amount/of the. reduction.. ..- ''", , ■'."

Mr....'Fisher:' (Wellington . : Central) hoped'.that if ,the Bill was sent; to a committee all interests in /the. 'House would be'represented on the'committee. He; noticed that evenHhe bookmakers were rep're'sentedj as would be seen from a division/on the previous '.evening. The Speaker ruled that'this. latter remark' must,be.withdrawn. : . ■ '.' ::;

■."Mγ.': Fisher: Oh, I only inade it jocularly. ,'. ~.-, .:.._ ..-.-.. . .'-.:■: :■' •'•Replying to.Mr;. Anderson, the Prime .Minister said'/thatvtho Bill would-, only be referredtp a committee, if that .we're., found ..necessary, aid . ..j'u' 'that..event inembers,.would have a'full, opportunity of'considering the personnel .of the committee. "■. '■'.■■'■• ' ';;.•;■ '.'.'• ;. .■'.•; • -Mr. rMassey: (Leader, of "the Opposition) said he wished to make, the .position of the Opposition with reference to the legislation of -1907 clear. "Members might vote! for', the third: reading ,of a. Bill'..'Without.'-being", in-.'thorough agree' ment'.'wiih every clause." He intended" to ; v6tc;-for', a reasonable; reduction in .the days of .racing... : • '•:•':■ . ' Prime Minister, in the course of ■ sbnj&;; further .remarks, .declared that Mr. 'Massoy had- voted. for- the totalisator.on.'the previous, evening; yet'in an address- to his '.constituents :he .had spoken against the totalisator. . ,• ;-" Mr..Massey: When was that? • .' Sir. Jbsenh: At Otahu in 1893.'.'-. - : Mr. Massey: 1893!" (Much laughter.) Why 'I>had' no. constituent's at that: time. - ■'.■. . J •.'■' • Sir, Joseph: You must have been educating them, to return you at the next election., ... . . Resuming, Sir , Joseph said that, the public were very thankful for the legislation of 1907.. If the clubs had not licensed undesirable- bookmakers thore would' not have been all the trouble, which had taken place. By way of personal explanation, , Mr. Massey stated.that.the object of his remarks -in" his speech, seventeen years ago 'was to show that he was against a percentage, of the totalisator fees going into' the . Consolidated' Fund. Ho would sooner see it set aside so that it might be :used for. the purposes of hospital and.charitable,aid. ~-.:. , • ; -. The motion as. amended ■ was' then agreed to.on the.voices.. .' '.'',■ :•;■'■,,-' ■ In regard to the divisions'on the gambling resolutions on Thursday.night, "pairs" 'were recorded"as follow :V-Abb-lition; of Bookmakers: -For-nHogari and Myers.•■.";.Against—Golvin■ 'and'. Lawry. Abolition,of the totalisator:l'pr—R«ed and L'aurenson.: Against: Hogan and Myers. -.■ '.-. , ■■.;■"■