DISAGREEMENT ON THE GAMING BILL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 279, 19 August 1920, Page 6

DISAGREEMENT ON THE GAMING BILL

THE COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE

POSTPONED

The Legislative Council was yesterday informed that tho Lower House had dis- " agreed with certain of the amendments made by the' Council in the Gaming Amendment Bill. 'These amendments •were designed to permit the telegraphing of investments to the machine; to permit the publishing of dividends; and to limit serai the number of races per day '..'at' any winter meeting. '[ Sir Francis Bell reminded the Council ;'th.at the amendments to which the House 'objected had beenVnoved by three mem- ' bers of the Council: With tho exception '■of the provision which, on behalf of tho Government, he himself had '• opposed wheu.it was moved, these,amendments had been loyally supndrted by his colleague in the Lower House. The House, however, had objected, and the Government did not propose to fight the matter. /It was anxious to Gave'the Bill, Ho moved that the Council should not insist on the three additional clauses.

The Hon. 0. Samuel thought tho l : Council should adjourn consideration _of !,. . tho message, since in ■ abandoning its |; -' .amendments without even tho usual coni:'" '" ference/ it would appear to be treating I , itself, rather lightly. , . . ■ !'■'.:■'■ " Sir JTrancis Bell replied that for the -' Council to insist upon amendments which it knew it could not cany would bo ! simply to invite defeat. The case might \ lave 'been different had the Council been ' prepared'""(.to, sacrifice the Bill if the !• amendments were not carried. t ■ Mr. Samuel pointed out that.he merely I sought to obtain an adjournment. He }■■■ . accordingly, and the Hon. J. Barr '. 'seconded.' r ', . \ \ y On a division, Mr, Samuel's amendment ! , .'• waiiiarricd by 17 votes to 13. r V ' ::L, 'P THE COOK ISLANDS " {.'. j,Y;An r animated discussion followed the [■'' of.tho-Cook Island report V in the House, last night. Members.who ;'•'' had been on the excursion to the Pacific Islands diiring the recess gave some of j tMir impressions. ,-It appeared from the i . speeches made, .that at least some of [ - the impressions wore wroifc. Opponents j =.„.of 'the Government, with tho single exception of Mr. Isitt, had seen nothing r ; good. The trade of the Islands was '■'<'■■ ' they.said.' the natives were disi ..satisfied, the fruit went to waste for lock ;'- .of .shipping, and tho natives wero not being - They said that in other i , ' islands,, such as Tonga,, tho lativeswero j muoh hotter educated. But Air. Isitt ..and Mr. Eeed, while they said that there |. still room for reform and improve<ih'ent, declared that tho education work I being done by the New Zealand teachers in the group was almost beyond praise. ; Many members had suggestions and ad- ; vice for the Government. r Dr. Pomare, ■ replying.' late at night, j- said that his guiding thought -in tho adminstration of the islands had been to •'cut the suit according. to tho cloth. ■ Many reforms were desirable, but they .-spelled money. The islands should be- ; made self-supporting as far as possible. j- . . .Dr. Pomare sketched what his Depart- |. ' . ment had done for the Cook Islands, and j jnsisted that-there was no ground for a i ; charge of neglect. The pay of the policeI man, .48 a year, might seem .small, but i lots' of sturdy Earotongans .would gladly t , . tako.the'job for nothing. it: V MAJo'RITY VERDICT OF JURIES j The Juries Act Amendment Bill, pro- [..- Viding; for the acceptance of a five-sixths | ; : ■ majority verdict in all criminal cases but j those in'which tho accused may be con- [ '■' demned to death, was yesterday put j through Committee in the Legislative Council, and was reported without any , amendment worth noting,

7:. AN EMERGENCY MEASURE ■' '• A message received by the Council i. ..from, the House- yesterday stated that -the House had passed the' Acts Interprei •■ tation. Amendment Bill, with the addil i; tion of a new clause. Tho Bill is an 5;, ; omorgency measure, rendered necessary er-: V the fact that Sir William Fraser has ,' been_acting for the Hon. G. J. Anderson j : . (Minister 'of Internal Affairs) during the ' '. N indisposition of tho latter. Sir Francis Bell, after explaining that tho added clause merely ensured that the . Bill Bhould bo a temporary one, moved that i the Council agree with the amendment : on condition that the House agreed with ; a slight consequential; amendment, tlio : necessity far which had evidently _ been overlooked. Tho motion was carried. qualificatioToTbarristers The Legislative Council passed the Law Practitioners' Amendment Bill in the ' form in. which it was reported from tho Statutes Revision Committee.'.The Bill entitles solicitors to count time 6pent on military service as part of the fiyo years' i practice which under the principal Act vill suffice to qualify them for admis- : eion as barristers. Councillors raised no | objection to the clause conferring that right, but the Hon. J. MncGregof ob- ;•-,. jectcd to clause i of the Bill, which ! proposes to repeal section 3of tho amend- : Jng Act of 19is ; This section prohibits ' p. K.C. from practising as a solicitor or in partnership with a solicitor. After a debate of much more interest to a section of the legal professicin than to tho general public, the clause was- carried by , 20 votes to 7. WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES In his'election manifesto Mr. Massey promised development of New Zealand industries. A question by Mr. Field suggested to Mr. Massey.that he,mh»ht begin with the woollen manufacturing industry. The Prime Minister replied: The revision 1 .of'the Customs tariff next session will give Parliament an opportunity of encouroirine New Zealand,industries., and it,is ' ■*WMVMV-fo taking advantage' of all , . "opportunities that may offer, much of our'wool -will be exported manufactured goods rather than as raw material. The Hon.'J; Barr yesterday gave notice ; in - the Upper House of. a Licensing Smsmdment'Bill. ) The Masseurs- Registration Bill was •' yesterday received by the 1 Oounoll from bejHqriee, and was.road a firm tin*,