TOTE PERMITS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1921, Page 4

TOTE PERMITS.

RACING COMMISSION’S REPORT THE GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE. ' SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. AVEEHINGTON, Oct. IS.

Members who lmvo been anticipating the rejection of the Racing Commission’s report, received a surprise today. when Mr Massey announced the intentions of the Government. It had been predicted that the report would be defeated by a. combination of members opposed to an increase of tote permits. and members dissatisfied with the allocation proposed by the Commission, but the form in which the matter has now- to lie placed before the House, separates the two issues and renders almost. impossible any combination of the hind suggested. The attitude of the anti-tote members was indicated plainly. They considered they had l>een outgenernlled. The matter was brought before the House by the Minister for Internat Affairs, who laid upon the table the Ordcr-in-Couneil. authorising the issue of a number of permits recommended by the Racing Commission. ’Hie Gaming Amendment Act of last year, had provided that this order should he laid on the table, within thirty days of the opening of the session, and had fill tho I provided that tote permits should be issued in accordance with the ordei. unless either House of Parliament dis sooted by resolution.

Sir George Hunter asked the Prune Minister what was the effect of laying the order on the table. Would the presentation of the paper give effect to the report of the Racing Commission. Mr Massey—lf this order were allowed to lie long enough oil the table without being challenged, it would undoubtedly give effect to tlm report of flic Commission. The matter is exeerdingly complicated. In order to ~jvo the House full opportunity for discussion I propose to bring down a Rill within a day or two. providing that permits may lie issued to Racing Clubs to a. number not exceeding the number proposed by the Commission. The Hill will not allocate permits to districts where it is proposed to give

Mr McCombs (HyUeltoii) Then the Government stands for increasing the the number of permits. Mi- Massey The honourable member is trying to make a party question ot this. Mr McCombs It is no use trying to shuffle. Mr Massey 1 have never shuffled. I am perfectly straight in this, and every other matter. first of all, this House will have the right- to decide upon the number of permits, not exceeding the number recommended by tlm Commission. After that, the Minister for Internal Affairs will bring dim n resolutions dealing with the different recommendations put forward by the Commission, each and every one ot them, so that members may not only express their opinions, but may have an opportunity of giving their votes for and against the different proposals. Air Isitt (Christchurch North!- Does not that mean that everybody will vote for an increase of permits, in the hope that when l lie distribution is made, it will come out for all right- for them. Your proposal unites all the racing nun (laughter!.

Sir (j Hunter If tile 15ill f:> to puss, will tile report of the Cointuissiou stand. Ml- Massey. No. If the Hill (loos not puss I shall roionmioml the Minister for Internal Affairs to nsk the House for [N'rmissioM to withdraw the Order-ill-('oiim il. Sir (tenrge Hunter Will any action he taken by (ioverninent without the House having :t further opportunity of considering the report anil ()rder-in-Cotineil. Mr Massey—Most certainly not. The Ordcr-in-C'onncil is already on the talde of the House, hut in order to make it less difficult for members to deal with this somewhat complicated subject, wo have agreed to bring down a Hill. Tf the Bill is agreed to, this Ordor-in-Council stands. It the Bill is not agreed to, we shall ask the House to allow us to withdraw the Order-in-Coimcil. The House then turned to other mat. ters. Mr Massey's decision means that nilloss the Hoi's” parses the Bill the old alloc; t ion of permits will continue.