NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3541, 31 July 1920, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

HON. G. J. ANDERSON ILL,

WELLINGTON, July 30

The Hon. G. «T. Anderson, Minister of Internal Affairs, was taken suddenly ill to-day, and lias to enter a private hospital. GAMING BILL AMENDMENT. EIGHT OF APPEAL. WELLINGTON, Thursday. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the Gaining Amendment BUI was committed. On clause 2 Sir Francis Bell moved to make a bookmaker liable to summary conviction, explaining that owing to the size of the penalty a bookmaker would still have the right to elect to be tried by jury. The amendment was adopted. A further amendment by Sir Francis Bell to increase the penalty for a person betting with a bookmaker tu a maximum of six months' imprisonment, and to give right of trial by jury, was carried. In answer to the Hon. W. J. Geddis Sir Francis Bell said he would consider the possibility of widening the definition of "bookmaker" to make certain of catching those Avho were engaged in bookmakiug as a skle-line.

The Hon. E Mitclielson moved to repeal section 28 of the principal Act to provide for secretaries of race clubs receiving by telegram instructions for investments on the totalisator. The amendment was adopted by 22 to 12. The following members voted against it: The Hons. Aitken, Jones, Fleming, Barr. Colonel Smith,,Sir William HallJones, Gow, Izard, Mac Gibbon Fisher, Wac. Gregor. and Tliomson. The Hon. W. H. Triggs' amendment to allow of publication of dividends was carried by 23 to 10. The members who voted against the clause wore: The Hons. Aitkeu, Jones, Fleming, Barr, Colonel Smith, Sir William HallJones, Gow, Mac Gibbon, Fisher and MncGreg-or. The Hon. M. Co,hen's amendment to' restrict meetings between Ist of May and the 21st of August 0 to seven races per day was carried by 18 votes to 12. but the Hon. Colonel Smith's proposal to reduce* rac&s to six per day was lost by 18 to 12. The Hon. E. W. Alison moved to legalise the use of the double totalisator At this stage progress was reported. Sir Francis Bell proposing to resume consideration of the bill to-morrow.