GAMING BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1923, Page 4

GAMING BILL.

INCH MASK OR PERMITS. WK.I.I.INGToX. Augii-t l’i). The Gaming Act Ameudmiuit Bdl provides i lint in addition to the totalisator license-, granted under Section .IQ of tlie | rim i] al Act, the Minister may grant imt more than twelve 'ic'him'.s to racing club; fur one day. am! not mole than it) to trotting clubs lor urn- dav.

Jf any club changes its c'nii-tir nl imi so as to let nine either a trotting club or a hunt club, it shall for the purposes of ilie redistribution of licenses be

deemed to continue as :i racing club, but shall not receive a greater number of licenses than that to which it may he entitled under in new eon-ti-tution. This is in apply with the necessary mudiiieations in the ca-o ui « change of constitution by a trotting club or a hunt club.

One clause provides i lint ii slutil ho Inn fill lor any deb licensed to u.-o the totalisator to refund any moneys invested in respect of any lior-e. ttilhdiawn from a lace before the totalizator is closed for that i.ire.

Section .‘IT of the principal Ad which gives power to racing dubs to regulate admission to racecourses, is amended by increasing the penalties imposed in regard to any specified class of persons excluded from racecourses. Sub-Section 5 of the clause in the principal Act provides a penalty for broach of the regulations, not- exceeding L':!0. It is proposed now to make the penalty a fine of £’2o. or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months. A now Mill-section is to be added providing Unit any person so removed shall not t*i the (lay of Midi removal reenter the race!nurse, find if he dues so re-enter, he may. without warrant. I.e arrested bv any constable ami taken

nefore a rnngisl rate oi any two justices and shall he liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £SO or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month. The totalizator shall not be open lot the purpose of receiving investments more than eight times on any one dor at any race meeting. At any nice meeting for which a license to use the totalisator is not granted, not more than eight races shall he run on one day. If at any rate meeting a hr a. h of this section is committed, every einomber, oflieer. agent, or servant of tile racing club having control of that race meeting shall, unless lie proves that lie was not a consenting parti to that breach, be guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding £slb Section 7 of the 1010 Act is accordingly to lie repealed.

So member of any lacing club, trotting club, or hunt club shall tie deemed to have any personal pecuniary interest iu liis capacity as such member :n

the property of the club, and on the dissolution of any such club, the assets remaining after all legal claims on the club have been satisfied, shall bo disposed of for public or charitable purposes in such manner as the c-tub may. "it it the approval of the Minister, have determined prior to its di-solu-tion. in manner appointed by the. Governor-General in Council. l’rovi-ion is made for the appointment of inspectors of totalizators, with a penalty up to £SO for refusing them information or hindering them in the execution of their duties. Regulations are to be framed prescribing the powers and duties of inspectors.