THE NEW GAMING BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 4 November 1907, Page 2

THE NEW GAMING BILL.

DRASTIC PROVISIONS. The Gaming Act Amendment Bill is I one of the most drastic proposals introduced in the House for a long While. . . , A penalty not exceeding £IOO, in default three months' imprisonment, is imposed on any person owning or keeping any house, room or place as a common gaming house, talcing part in the management of the same, or advancing money for gambling purposes at such' places.' | ,j y\ '{.fifli' Anyone found in a common gaming house without lawful excuse may be lined £5.

"Common gaming house" includes clubs, except those holding charters under the Licensing Act, 1881, and also includes premises kept for lotteries. All games of chance are declared unlawful within the meaning of the Gaming Acts. Power is given to the Supreme Court to declare premises to be common gaming houses. The police, on such declaration being made, shall advertise the fact in the Gazette and in local newspapers, and shall cause the notice making the declaration to be served on the owner or the occupier of the premises lor on their agent. Notice visible to all persons entering the.premises must also be posted p. Any person found on or entering premises after the declaration has been made or is in torco shall be liable to arrest without warrant. The line in such case is not less than £5 and not more than £IOO. The owner of the premises is also to be liable to a line if he fails to evict an occupier against whom a declaration has been made. No calling whatever can be carried on in a building in respect ot which a declaration is in force. The alleged boxing saloon is therefore dead, and the bookmaker must make his exit.

Street betting is absolutely pronibited. The double totalisator is prohiblteJ. also and dividends are only to be made in respect of one horse in any one race.

Placing clubs cannot accept investments lor the tote by telegraph, and no sums for investment on the totalisator shall be received after or within live minutes of the notified lime of the starting of a race, and no investments snail be received otherwise than at the totalisator itself. Jj-iaally, racing clubs ■He permitted to license bookmakers to eirry on business as bookmakers on dubs courses if the club sees fit