“SPORT OF KINGS”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 October 1924, Page 5

“SPORT OF KINGS”

GAMING BILL DISCUSSED. ALLOCATION OF PERMITS. INTERESTING COMPARISONS. (By Telegraph.—Special to the Star.) . WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. With a minimum of delay the Prime Minister cleared the way in the House to-day for commencing, the debate on the second reading stage of the Gaming Act Amendment Bilk There were early evidences that last session’s expenence of stonewall debating tactics would be repeated, and in anticipation' or this, supporters of the measure were either 'exceedingly brief or quite silent. .. Hon. R. 1 F. Bollard, Minister in charge of the Bill, in moving the sec* ond reading, stated that the Bill was identical with that of last year, excepting the deletion of a clause giving the police greater power to eject persons from. racecourses. There was a discussion of nine hours on the last occasion, and he suggested to a smiling House that, in view of this long talk, there would be little left to say. on the present occasion. Mr. McCombs : ‘ Will you . iridicate who will get various extra permits? Hon. Bollard: I intend to'take the advice of the racing and trotting conferences. Mr. Nash : You will not be bound by it, . ...-■■■>■ Hon. Bollard: No; but I want their advice. Mr. Wilford: You will not necessarily take it. (Laughter.) Hon. Bollard added that the extra penults .provided in the Bill were really for country clubs. There was a growing, demand throughout the Dofor permits, and there was not half enough to satisfy the demands of clubs who were asking for extra, days' racing, but if this was permitted there were not enough permits to go round. There were places in the country where the population had grown considerably, and they were asking for permits for the sport of kings.: They were entitled to it- because it took some country people three, days to attend a metropolitan meeting, whereas they could clo their, work in the mornmg. attend a local meeting, and do their work again in the, evening. He moved the' second reading of the Bill. If brevity is the soul of -\vit, the Minister As a humorist,” commented Mr. Wilford, who quickly-showed' -he was endeavouring to win the same reputation, as he assured'- the House that those who wished- to* show their friendliness to the measure would say very little about it., ,He noted that it was a non-party measure, and" at the ‘ end of the discussion it would be difficult to recognise where one party, began and another, ended. Mr. Wilford then gave some ' interesting figures in regard to racing. Taking flat racing, there were a-lesser number of racing days than, twenty years ago- the number being 229 in 1924 as against 236 in 1904. There were' only eight racing clubs that had more than four days’ flat racing, while therJ. were 45 clubs that had only one. day’s flat racing. In 1909 there were 83 days for trotting as against 59 days at the present time. For the information of those districts that, had been;, neglected he, mentioned that .there were ' only two days’ trotting for the whole of Southland. (Cries of “Shame.”-)- There were only 19 days’ trotting in the whole of the North * Island- (Southern member : “Quite right’’’)', and ..of the 19 days in the*whole of the’ North Island,. Wellington only had one.-

Mr. Isitt: Poor Wellington." Mr. Wilford, continuing, said Taranaki had also only one day and Hawke’s Bay had none. There was only one day’s trotting ill the w 7 hole provincial district of Auckland outside the city and suburbs. The recent commission recommended eleven days’ extension of existing licenses and fourteen days’ new 7 licenses. , That excluded the question of redistribution. The statutory number of days for racing and trotting was 288'. Vof which number 168 wvere used during Christmas and Easter public holidays and Saturdays. The bulk 1 of the remainder were used on local holidays, anniversary day, etc. He concluded by remarking, amidst laughter.- that as he thought the second reading would go through fairly simply he would not take up any more time. Mr. Parry started on a long trail of debate with some reminiscences. Regarding last session, when 14 hours were occupied on the same subject. K' opposed the Bill, he said, because of Hie institution which controlled racing absolutely without regard for the lives of iockevs who made racing possible. He strongly condemned the treatment of jockeys by owners. , Another distinctive ; speech in opposition to the Bill came from Mr. L. M. Isitt. who devoted bis attention to the economic aspect; reminding the House of a declaration liv the- Premier several years ago that there was too much gambling, and he was not sure whether he would not vote against the tote. The volume of tote ; betting then avrs £1,800.000. but now 7 Jt Avas ten millions. He also remembered a spasm of righteous indignation by the deader of the Opposition on account of the great development /of - betting. Apparently they, had ; discovered .that hitting was a Ananiy. British occupation, hut. lap believed' that the real reason for their change of front-was that there w 7 as snch strong political influence behind this “sport of kings’'. that. members of the House . were afraid to express-their Wishes.‘ Members: .With rlra.AV. - ' .

Mr. Isitt: I withdraw. . T.sav they are too politic to express, their convictions. though'• outside -"the - House they Avill admit that . the gambling eA r il has reached a A 7 olnme : . which is a menace to the community., /