WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1931, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

DELAYED CONSTRUCTION. WAIRAU’S PROTEST. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, October 12. Naturally Mr *E. F. Healy, the very live member for Wairau in the House of Representatives, is much disappointed by the indefinite suspension in the completion of the South Island Trunk railway. He had spent many arduous days, and doubtless many sleepless nights, in devising means by which lie hoped a majority of the members of the House would be persuaded to give effect to the dreams of seventy odd years. The deputation he brought across Cook Strait last week to impress the public and to convince the politicians was one of the greatest gatherings of the kind ever seen in the Capital City. Yet its size was no more impressive than was its earnestness. There was not a. man nor a woman among the invaders, it seemed., who was not satisfied that a just cause was at stake. Mr Healv had marshalled an array that never doubted the righteous ness of its cause. DTSAPPOTNTM ENT. It was quite natural for Mr Healy to cross the Straits on Saturday to carry such solace as he might to hit disappointed constituents. Perhaps he would have been wiser, however, had lie spent the week-end in a leisurely review of the situation. As it was he blamed the party whips for having deprived the people of Wairau of their just rights and implied that the Prime v ' : nrtor lir-d not kept faith with him. Therefore, lie asked the good folk who greeted him “a free hand during the remainder of the session,’ so, it would seem, that he might act and vote as lie pleased during the rest of his Parliamentary career. He hud been betrayed by bis own party and his own leader, lie saitf a little more definitely, but still, apparently, with only a. remote conception of the difficulties besetting the Coalition Government. The railway is not abandoned. Simply its construction lias been delayed. BOOKMAKERS AND BETTING.

B,v way of keeping the legislative machine moving in some way or another tlie Gaining Amendment Bill, sponsored by Mr H. T. Armstrong the Labour member for Christchurch East was turned lose on its second reading on Friday afternoon. Mr Armstrong had the old story to tell, to the effect

that the only way to regulate gaining on the racecourse was to license the offenders, and lie found quite a number ot members of the House endorsing his opinion. The contention of a majority of the speakers indeed, was to the effect that undesirable gambling would be lessened by the licensing of bookmakers; but. Air 11. S. Kyle, the member for Riccartou, who probably is better informed on the subject than the great mjajority of his fellow members, expressed quite a different view of the situation. He believed, he shid, that the bookmaking fraternity could be wiped out within a week it the police did their duty. THE BROADER VIEW.

A majority of the speakers seemed to be more or less well disposed towards the licensing of reputable bookmakers; but Mr H. G. Dickie the member for Patea, who represents what may be called a sporting community, urged that “a determined drive should be made against bookmakers throughout the country.” Their existence, he said, was well known and they were operating with an unfair advantage. In every part of the Dominion money that should go to the racing clubs and the State was being pocketed by the bookmakers. 'lllis is a state of affairs no better known to anyone than it is to the police and if the “drive” suggested by Mr Kyle and Mr Dickie were made by tin* authorities the scandal would be cleaned up in less than a racing season. That the rcaing clubs are losing revenue through the inroads of the bookmakers is plain, and through the same source the State is a sufferer.