ANTI-GAMBLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1848, 31 August 1906, Page 2

ANTI-GAMBLING.

DRASTIC REFORMS,

PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received 10.29 p.m., August 30. Sydney, August 30.

The Gambling Bill, as it emerged from commictee after a protracted sitting, embodied a number of drastic amendments. When Mr Griffiths carried bis amendment prohibiting betting at sports meetings it was understood that Mr Yfade intended to move to omit horse and pony races from the definition of sports, but be did not. As the Bill now stands betting on racecourses is rendered illegal. It is expected that this will be altered when the Bill cime3 up for the third reading. Received 10.35 p.m., August 80.

Other amendments were deletion of the clause providing a penalty for betting at sports meetings, fixing the number of race days and courses within forty miles of Sydney po3t office at twenty-four annually; and within fifteen miles of Newcastle post office, fifteen annually. Pony meetings within forty miles of Sydney are limited to twenty-four annually; beyond forty miles, six' annually on any course, to take effect from January Ist next. Trotting contests are excluded from the definition of race mooting. The term “sports'’ has been extended to include swimming carnivals.

Mr J3runtnell carried his amendment preventing newspapers publishing odds relating to racing. The Bill provides for a Board to advise the Minister in regard to race meetings,