WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

EXTINCTION OF THE BOOKMAKER GAMING ACT AMENDMENT. (Our Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, July 21. it is significant of the times and the bent of the public opinion that the second leading of the Gaming Act Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday created inwre animation on the floor of the Chamber and far more interest in tile galleries than had any previous incident of the session, not excepting the Governor’s Speech nor the three “ no-confidence ” motions. The proposals contained in the Bill had been canvassed in advance, members of the Mouse and people outside had formed their own opinions of the measure and the debate on tho second reading, for the most part, was carried on by speakers who understood their subject and their audience was highly critical. For once.the House and the lobbies and the galleries wore keenly alive to what was going on.

THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS. By the time the new Minister of Internal Affairs had finished his speech in moving the second reading of the Bill there could be no doubt in the House or in the galleries of the earnestness of the Governinei.it in the matter. Mr Anderson did not, underrate the magnitude of the task that lay before his Department, nor did lie pretend to have discovered a panacea for all the ills that beset the sport- of racing; but he made it quite plain he was out for rseults. “We are going to have a trial of strength between the Government and the bookmakers” he said, “and the Government is going to spare no efforts in asserting the supremacy of the State.” That was the keynote of the Minister’s whole appeal to the House. OUT OF ORDER. Mr W. E, Parry, the Labour member for Auckland Central, rose immediately the Minister sat down and gave notice of his intention when the Bill got into committee to move an amendment to the effect that the Racing Clubs should not be entitled to interfere with the bookmakers unless their own rules had been approved by the Registrar of In-dus-trial Unions, whose business it would be to see that jockeys and other workers employed about racecourses were paid adequate wages and enjoyed proper conditions. Apparently Mr Parry’s purpose was not to save the bookmakers, but to air the grievance of the members of the Jockeys’ Association, whose representatives occupied prominent seats in one of the galleries. He said many hard things of Sir George Clifford and bis associates on the Racing Conference, and it was not till he had practically concluded his speech the Speaker determined it all was out of order. PROSPECTS OF THE BILL.

It was made plain during the course of the debate that the Bill was not going to have the easy passage through the House that had been generally expected. Labour members are unfriendly towards tho measure on account of their dislike for what they call the autocratic methods of the Racing Conference. Then there are members on both sides of the House whose sympathies obviously rest with the bookmakers, others who object to the onus of proof being cast upon accused persons. In addition to these there is a section that insists upon the legalisation of the double totalisator and tho remittance of money to the machine by telegram, and the group that will have the whole Bill and nothing hut the Bill. In the face of all these diversions the Government may have to make some minor concessions, hut if it stands firm on tho main principle of the Bill it will win through.