THE GAMING BILL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 966, 5 November 1910, Page 5

THE GAMING BILL.

SOME PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. Several important amendments to the Gaming intendment' Bill aro to be proposed by Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., when tho Bill is in Committeo.. Mr- Wright intends moving that a now sub-section bo added to Clause 7 (which provides that no investment on the totalisator shall bo received otherwise than in money, banknotes, or cheque), as under:— "Chequo shall mean a cheque on sorno bank enrrying on banking business in New Zealand." Tho following now clause will also bo moved:— "For tho purposo of. carrying out tho provisions of tho principal Act and this Act, all niombers of tho nolico foi'ce on duty on any racecourse shall have full power and authority to. enter, into and Upon any premises of the racing club, or any buildings, or totalisator-bouse, or totalisator, and to inquire and inspect if the totalisator is being properly and honestly worked, and to mako any inquiries for tho purpose of ascertaining if tho provisions contained in tho aforesaid Acts are boing. infringed or in any way abused." ■' An amendment to the clauso m. the nrincipal Aot which deals with the official timo of starting races will be moved as under:— ; "In evory official, programme of any racing club", and in all official race books or cards issued by any such olub for any meeting, there shall be stated a time for tile starting of each race to be run at that meeting, and, after tho time so. stated, it shall not under any pretence bo lawful to' ring-on or register any investment bn the totalisator, whether ornot such investment was received before tile time so stated." Another amendment which Sir. Wright intends to move is:— "If at any. time the Minister for Internal Affairs is satisfied that any racing club has committod any breach of the provisions of the nrincipal Act or this Act relating to race meetings or the uso of the totalisator thereat, he shall revoke the totalisator. license, of that club, anil refuse to issue any further license to :the said olub .for a period of: one year after , the date of such revocation." When the Gaming Bill is' in Committee, Mr. Horries intends moving an amendment having for its object limitation of the penal clauses in connoc.t'iori, with' betting on racecourses by bookmakers. In regard .to tho duration of race meetings, Mr. Horries intends to move a proviso to tlio . effect that nothing ,in the Act 'shall prevent the stewards or committeo of any racing club, if compelled on account of inclement weather or any extraordinary circumstances, to postpone any racing day, from cswnd'.iKt arv race meeting ■eyond tho period specified.