HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1894, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, it was stated that information had been received of a confidential nature to the effect that the Government Buildings in Wellington were likely to be burned down, and also Parliament Buildings whilst workmen were there, but no arrests had been made up to the present ; that Government would do their best to piss the Liquor Amendment Bill through the House ; that Government intended to re-arm the Volunteer force with Martini rifles. BELLAMY'S. On the motion by the Premier to introduce the Sale of Beer, Wine, and Spirituous Liquors at Bellamy's Prohibition Bill, Sir Robert Stout opposed the measure on the ground that under the Licensing Act of 1881 there was now no license for Bellamy's, and the Bill was not required. Hon. Mr Seddon contended that to give effect to the previous night's resolution this Bill must be passed. The Bill was read a second time. THE TOTALISATOR. Mr W. Hutchison moved, "That the totalisator be abolished as an instrument of gambling and a source of public revenue, and that Government be requested to bring in a Bill to give immediate effect to this resolution." He spoke srongly in support of the resolution and in condemnation of the totalisator as a medium for gambling. Messrs Carnell, Meredith, Mitchelson, G. J. Smith, and Willis supported the motion, and Messrs Graham, G. W. Russell, O'Regan, and Carncross opposed it. The debate was interrupted by the 5.50 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. GAMING BILL. Sir Robert Stout moved the second reading of the Gaming Bill, to amend the law concerning gaming. After detailing the provisions of the measure he said he should not object to doing away with the totalisator altogether, but he thought it would rather increase the number of bookmakers. Captain Russell (Hawke's Bay) seconded the motion. Everyone was agreed that the number of days on which racing took place in the Colony should be restricted, but he did not believe gambling was on the increase. He did not agree with Sir Robert Stout in limiting the use of the total is ator to seventy-five days in the year, but agreed that some limit should be placed on the use ot the machine. He did not favor the abolition of the totalisator, and the machine was not half ao much temptation to gamble as bookmaker?. He should support the Bill us a step in the right direction. Hon. Mr Seddon supported the Bill, believing that it was absolutely necessary legislation should take place to check gambling in the Colony. The Bill, however, did not go far enough, inasmuch as it would not stop a larqe amount of money that left this Colony yearly for other colonies. He should be happy to join other members in devising some way of coping with this difficulty and stopping so many thousands of pounds a year from going out of the Colony. Mr La wry contended that clause 5 would have the inevitable result of shutting up every country club in the Colony. Messrs Fraser, Newman, Stevens, and W. Hutchison supported the Bill. Sir Robert Stout said if clause 4 of the Bill were passed tote betting would be suppressed altogether. Personally he would like to see the totalisator abolished, but reforms came slowly, and he was content at present to limit its use. Tihe motion for the second reading was agreed to on the voices, the committal being set down for next Thursday. After Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Distress for Rent Abolition Bill, the Factories Bill, and the Public Works Bill, the House rose at 10.35 p.m.