THE ANTI-GAMBLING BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2045, 23 November 1907, Page 2

THE ANTI-GAMBLING BILL.

PASSED -I'N LOAVE'R HOUSE.

THE “BOOKIE” TRIUMPHANT

(Special to Times.)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 22. In the xireciiicts of Parliament yesterday the “bookie.” was greatly m evidence. He came early m great numbers, and be stayed late, listening with rapt attention ;bo tlio chosen of the people airing their views on the great gambling question, and wondering what would happen when clause 35 was reached. It was a question of .“may” or “shall,” and if the House in its wisdom decided upon the former, the bookie’s occupation would be -gone. But before that stage was reached •lion, members had to wrestle with a definition Pof the genus “bookmaker.” The Bill as drafted gave the following definition: “Anv_ person who acts or carries on business as a bookmaker or turf commission agent, or who gains or endeavors to gain Ills livelihood wholly or partly by betting or laying wagers.” “That won’t b 6 fair,” declared Mr. Wilford. “Every trainer of a racehorse makes a part of his living by betting.” “Make it a layer of odds,- advised one member. “Ur banker against the field,” said another. “Make it apply to those who gain their livelihood wholly by betting or making wagers.” “No, that- won’t do,” was tlie rejoinder, “because for part of the year they will go and earn their livelihood otherwise, and so escape.”, “Make it who gain -their living by laying -the odds,” said Mr. Wilford; with'a .triumphant smile. “What’s laying the odds?” asked a member. “Oil, leave it to the Court io deckle; they ca.il call evidence.” “I -don’t -think that will meet tlie case,” interjected the Premier. I have heard there -axe such things as ‘Evens’. AVe don’t want to fall in over this.” (Laughter.) “AVeM, if you put in. a man who tikes the odds,” sakl Mr. AVilford, “no one can bet with the tote, be.causc ia man who bets with the totalisator -takes the odds.”

“The -definition in the "Bill,” said the Premier at len-gt-lg "is an exact copy of 'the one in the New South AVales Act-, and -that Act lias worked all right. I propose to leave it -as it 'is.”

“Better make i-t include bookmakers’ blerks or agents,” advised -UHerries.

Air. Herraes’ advice, was taken and the bookmaker stood defined.

During the evening there was some rather plain talking about the merits and demerits of tho Bill, and it was clearly evident that -the bookmaker had a lot of influence in Parliament-,' far . more than most people imagined. -Hon. members wrestled with tho

clauses one by one, and the “bookies,” packed in the galleries above, looked down with interest and- .admiration upon their political champions. It was a tired House that assembled after supper. Every member who had been sticking to his work was physically and mentally tired. ißy 11 o’clock anem-bers had (with the usual meal intervals) been

on the go for 12 hours, and the remaining hours dragged wearily on —midight, 1,2, 3, and 3.30. The House was in no condition to legislate, but there were knotty problems ahead for the -wee sma’ hours. Glause 35, providing for the issue of licenses to -bookmakers by racing clubs, provided food for a great deal of discussion. Mr. Major moved to- amend the

clause by confining the right to- issue licenses to Metropolitan Racing Clubs. .

After some discussion- Mr. Major withdrew his amendment. With a view of testing the question of the licensing of bookmakers, the Hon. Mr. Guinness moved to strike out the first line of the clause. 'This was defeated by 29 to 24.

Mr. Fraser 'pointed out that- even if (tike clause- were passed the racing clubs were stall given a -power of discrimination. They “shall,” be said, in -the words of the Bill, “issue a license if ike .applicant is a fit and proper person.” Mr. Lewis said tlie clause was m inflatory. In practice tkere were decent bookmakers, and a club which refused a decent bookmaker a license would publicly brand him as an -undesirable person, and one unfitted to hold a license. Ho would have bis remedy in the Courts, and no club would take that .risk. Mr. Witty moved to substitute' tiio word “may” for “shall.” This would have the effect of making tlio issue of licenses optional -beyond all question. The amendment was lost by 29 votes to 27, -and the clause "as a w

liole was adopted by 28 votes to 27. The result of these divisions was a great surprise, for it- was generally supposed that racing clubs would not he. compelled to license bookmakers.

Had there 'been more active whipping rMr. Witty’s motion would not h-vvo been dost, but .t'hoso members wlio had stayed out of bed were too tired to bother, and others had some days ago left for their homes. 11l all* some 27 members were not present, and so tile bookmaker was saved by one vote.

With one accord and with pleased expressions on their faces the members of the “profession,” who still thronged the galleries, got up and shook the dust of Parliament off '■then feet. They were out of the wood, so to sneak. Not so the Premier, for towards the end 'Mr. I)a----vey moved a new clause —(a) making .it- obligatory on the part of racing clubs to pay out on investments -to the nearest sixpence (instead of the nearest shilling, .as practised bv some clubs); and (b) limiting the number of days on which, the totilisator shall bo* used by one-sixth, as from the Ist September next. The first portion was adopted by 27 to 2d, and tihe second by 30 to 23.

At 3.30 a.m. the Bill was reported with amendments,

Tlie third reading was carried by 41 votes to 6, and tho Bill passed. It is now in tho Upper House, and seems in a fair way to become law, and yet- a week ago many members, and oven a Cabinet -Minister, stated that it had not -the “ghost of a chance.” Later. Tlio Upper House did not wastemuch time over the Gaming Bill. ,It is already CIO minutes to 8) practically -through . committee. . The bookie has not been de-legalised; he lias run the -gauntlet of -t-lie Lords, and will now shout the odds in the saddling paddock as in the- days of old.

Tho Attorney-General said there was no -denying the fact that the “tote” would suffer in consequence of the leg iUsing of bookmakers.': As a sort of solatium to the clubs he moved that the clause (inserted in the Lower House on Air. Davey’s motion) restricting the number o-f racing days bo struck out. Hu's was agreed to on the voices.

BILL AGREED TO BY COUNCIL.

AVELLEVCTON, Nov. 22. The Council resumed -at 2.30 p.an. GAMING ACT. . Hie Gaming Act Amendment Bill was received from,the House and read a first time. the Attorney-General immediately moved t-lie second reading. The second reading of the Bill was carried on the voices, and the naasare was immediately commit-

All clauses up to and including 30 i\ ere carried without- amendment. Air. Jenkinson moved to add to clause 31 by making it . an offence to publish winners of prizes in any sweeps or lottery. This was defeated on the voices. - Tlio Council adjourned at 5 o.m. Tlie Council resumed at 7.30." Air. AYigram moved to strike out the first 'line of clause 35, with a view to -testing the question of the continuation of the tote.—Lost by 14 to 9.

Tlie same clause says tliat racing c übs authorised to use the tote /shall issue licenses to bookmakers v. no 'in the opinion of the committee or such club are fit and proper persons. .

Air. George moved--to substitute the word “may” for “shall.”—Lost by 14 to 7.

Clause 37 (inserted .at the instance of Mr. Davey in the House last night) reduces the number of days on which the tote can b e used by one-sixth from the Ist of August next. This was struck out, on the motion or the Attorney^General. ■ .Mr. J*enkin'son moved ,a. new clause, strictly limiting investments on tlie tote to cash.—Defeated- on the voices.

The Attorney-General moved to add -to clause 31 (making it an offence to publish dividends on a horse race) by making it an addi-. tioiial offence to publish “any statement from which a dividend or starting -price might be calculated.” This would prevent even the publication of figures relating to the support accorded each horse. Air. G.uncross said the Rill hit pretty hard, yet not one murmur had been heard against- it. Newspapers would observe the spirit of tlie Act.

Dr. Findlay said -he h'a-d not the slightest doubit- that reputable newspapers would, but there was no disguising -the fact that a section of Hie press, which Mr. Oarncross could name, would be only too ready to take advantage of any loophole. The addition to the clause -was agreed to on tlie voices. ..

The Bill was reported with amendments, -read a third time, and passed.