WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3534, 23 July 1920, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

EXTINCTION OF THE 8008-

MAKER,

GAMING ACT AMENDMENT

(Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, July 21. It is significant of the times and of the bent of public opinion that the second reacting of the Graining Act .Jill in the House of Ee-

preseiuuinis yesterday created more animation un the floor of the Chamber and far aioio interest in the galleries

than had any previous incident of the session, not excepting the i- speech nor the three "no-confidence" motions. The proposals contained in the Bill had been -well canvassed in advance, members of the House and people outside had formed their own opinions of the measure and the debate on the second .reading, for the most part, was carried on by speakers who understood their subject and the audience was highly critical. For once the House and the lobbies and the galleries Avere keenly alive, to what

was going on. THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION. By the time the new Minister of In- , ternal Affairs had finished his speech in moving the second reading of the Bill there could be no doubt in the House or in the galleries of the earnestness of the Government in the matter. Mr Anderson did not underrate the magnitude of the task that lay before his Department, nor did he pretend to have discovered a panacea for all the ills that beset the sport of racing; but he made, it quite plain he was- out for results. a 'We are going to have a trial of strength between the Government and the bookmakers," he said, "and the Government is going to spare no efforts in asserting the supremacy of the State." That was the keynote of the 'Minister' s whole appeal to the House. OUT OF ORDER.

Mr W. E. Parry ,the Labour member for Auckland Central, rose immediately the Minister sat down and gave notice of his intention when the Bill got into committee to move an amendment to, the effect that the Racing Clubs should net be entitled to interfere with the bookmakers unless their own rules had been approved by the Registrar of Industrial Unions, whose business it would be to see that jock•v. and other workers employed about racecourses were paid adequate wages and engoyed proper •conditions. Apparently Mr Parry's purpose was not to save the bookmakers, but to air the grievances of the members of the Jockey's Association, whose representatives occupied prominent seats in one of the galleries. He said many hard things of Sir George Clifford and his associates on the Pacing Conference, and it was not till he had practically concluded hi.« speech the Speaker determined it all was out of order.. PROSPECTS OP THE BILL.

It was made plain during the course of the debate that the Bill wag not going to have the easy passage through the House that had been 'generally expected. Labour members are unfriendly towards the measure on account of their dislike for what they call the autocratic methods of the Eacing Conference. Then, there are members on both sides of the House whose sympathies obviously rest with tlie bookmakers, otber s wno object to the onus of proof being cast upon accused persons. In addition to these there is a section that insists upon the legalisation of the double" totalisator and the remittance of money to the machine by telegram, and the group that will have the whole Bill and nothing but the Bill. In the face of all these diversions the Government may have to make some minor concessions, but if it stands firm cm the main principle of trie Bill it will win through.