THE TOTE DEBATE.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1921, Page 2

THE TOTE DEBATE.

COMMISSIONS (REPORT KIDDED NO ALTERATIONS THIS year. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON Nov. 2.

The light on the totalisator issue opened tlus evening. Mr Massey was to have moved the second reading of his Gaming Amendment Hill at i .30, hut lie was delayed by the prolongation of the debate opened in the afternoon on Mr It cell's bocal Elections Bill. The Government Bill contains only one working clause, which provides that the total number of permits for I the Dominion shall be increased from | ‘250 to 278, the number proposed by the Commission.

When Mr Reed provided an opportunity by reporting progress ott Ins Bill. *Mr 'Massey said the report of tile Racing Commission had already lieen discussed bv the Hoiist! and he did not propose' to cover the ground again. The Bill was not final. Members would have another opportunity to review the position. Re admitted in discussing the Bill that the House was discussing the report of the Commission, but even if the Bill passed unanimously, the question of allocation would hate to come before the House. The passing of the Hill would mean that 28 additional permits would require to be allocated. If the Bill was given its second reading, he would not bring it forward again until iiext month, Because the Financial Statement and other matters were more important, if no mure interesting. He wanted a division on the second reading that night. If the Bill was rejected the Commission report would go into the waste paper basket. If the Bill was carried, the House would have a later opportunity of voting on the Commission’s report. He could give a definite assur-

ance on that point. The report provided for adjustments of permits for concessions to country districts and for removal of certain conditions that shouh.l not exist. Those three principles were embodied in the report. He believed there had Iteen a great improvement in racing during recent years hut more could be done. Proprietary Clubs would not be tolerated in this country, nnd ho would advise those concerned to put their house* in order, without delay. If there was a need for a clean up. the Government would see that it was done. The Minister for Internal Affairs had powers

apart from the recommendations of the Commission. Mr Massey, quoted the Commission’s statement that increases on the lines proposed would not increase the volume of totalisator betting. The outcome of the debate on the Gaining Amendment Bill remained in doubt until the division was taken at 1.30 a.m. Many opinions were staled at length during the evening and it ".is made apparent that the opponents of the Bill were a strongely mixed Imnd. Having men were hand in hand -with the uncompromising opponents of the Tote. The debate indicated that a majority of memlftirs favoured an increase in tote permits, as far as country clubs were concerned, but the deciding factor in very many cases was the local interest.

Mr Massey had told members at the beginning of the debate that if they rejected his Bill the report of the Commission would he dead. He repeated this statement at midnight, and added that if members approved of the increase proposed in the Bill, Government was prepared 4o take the responsibility for the allocation of the permits on an amended basis. He did not approve of all recommendations uf the Commission, but this suggestion was not definite enough to satisfy the representatives of Clubs threatened with extinction, and when the Bill went to division it was defeated by 86 votes to ‘2B.

Mr Massey smiled good hiimouredly, and moved the adjournment. It is certain now that existing conditions will remain unaltered for the present season.

Mr Massey is not expected tq give facilities for any more racing legislation this session. The districts' that were recommended for new permits w ill have to do without them for the present hut it will not he surprising if the Minister for Internal Affairs has something to say to the Racing authorities about the allocation of permits for next season.

WELLINGTON, Xov. 2. The following is the. divison list on the second reading of the Gaming Amendment Bill. For the second* reading 28: At more Campbell Coates Glenn Guthrie Hawken Henare Merries Hockley Jennings MeCnllum McLeod McNicol ' Mandcr Massey Ncsworthy Pornare lteed. Seddon Smith, R. TV. S. G. Smith Stewart Sykes Uru . Witch Wilford Williams. Young Against tiro second reading, 36: Rartram Bitchcner Brown, Burnett Craigic v J- MeC. Dickson. S. Dickson Dixon E., Edie ' Field Forbes A. Hamilton .T. R. Hamilton Harris Horn, Howard Hunter » Jones Kellett Luke Lysnar McCombs Malcolm Masters Mitchell E. Newman Ngata Poland Rotter T. TV. Rhodes Savage Sullivan Statham Wright Witty Pairs. For. Against. R. H. Rhodes Dr Newman Anderson Barr Holland Nash Lee Parry Hudson Fraser Hanan Sidey