CARD TOURNEYS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1933, Page 2

CARD TOURNEYS

AAIENDING LEGISLATION

WELLINGTON, December 16

Card tournaments in aid of charitable and oilier fippmved , purposes are excluded ' from the scope of gaming legislation by the Card Tournaments Regulation Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives ( and read a first, time. Tlie bill (lecilares that where, after paying an. . admission' ."fee, persons take part in card ganies “ in premises, other than licensed premises the fact that any. prize other than in money, or if in money, of no greater value than £l, is given to the winner shall not render those conducting the game, occupying the premises, or playing cards liable to prosecution for any offence ■ under the Gaming Act, or other gaming legislation. . Two conditions are laid down. - The first is that. a person . conducting a tournament should give the police ( fail particulars,' and pot less • than i seven /days’, notice, ■ and should, on i the request of the ' police, furnish a j statement of receipts and payments i within 14 days after the tournament j has beeti held; The second condiI .fion is that the /proceeds of ;the j tournament must ,bo devoted to a charitable' • purpose within the meanImg of the Religious, Charitable and 1 Educational Trusts, Act,' 1908, or. to any-other purpose approved by the Alinister for Justice, provided that no part of the proceeds is appropriated for private gain. In the case of a series of card tournaments extending over a period of not more than six months it is necessary to notify the police' only dnoe seven clear days before the first of, the series. If any proceedings are taken, the burden of proving that* the provisions of the bill have been com- | plied with is to lie on the person •charged.. All tournaments are fo.be j open for inspection at any time by I the polioe. j The Alinister for Justice (the Hon J. G. Cobbe) said the bill had been • sought again and again by the : School Committees’ Association.