GAMING AND LOTTERIES BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 18 November 1907, Page 2

GAMING AND LOTTERIES BILL.

COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS. The Gaining and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill lias been considered by the sj..(viii( committee appointed to deal with it, and reported to iho llon.se. ..Members interested in racing were absent Trail the committee when it was being dealt with, and I he chances are that, in consequence nf its being considered when they eould r.ot attend, it will be blocked in th.> Homo, with the result that there will lie little ciianee of its passing this session. It U freely reported amongst members that one member of the Ministry says it in going through, while another Cabinet Minister says the Bill has not g.t a ghost of a chance, this

Several amendments have been made by the committee in the Bill. Subsection a of section 20 regarding street betting, whieh provides that a constable may arrest at any time without warrant, has been struck out. In section 2i), which makes it illegal for an officer of a racing club to accept telegraphic instructions as to investments on the totalisator, the word "telephonic" has been added.

Section 31, prohibiting the publication of advertisement or notification regarding betting on a horse race, or as to investments on the totalizator, has been added to so as to prevent the publication of "any information, advice, or suggestion as to the probable result of any such race." A new clause has been added rendering liable to a penalty of £2O any [>erson who prints, publishes, or sells any newspaper or other printed document that contains any statement as to the dividend paid on investments on the totalisator in respect of any horse race, whether run in New Zealand or elsewhere.

Section 32 has lieen altered so as. to permit of a second-place totalisator dividend. The "five minutes before starting" provision in regard to totalisator investments has been struck out.

A new clause has been inserted preventing licensed bookmakers from betting after the time notified for the starting of a race. The penalty provided for a breach of the section is a fine not exceeding Cinit.

When lhe Bill was reported from the special committee with amendments, Mr. llerries said he had a grievance, inasmuch a*, the Bill had been put through while he and Messrs. Poland and Davey, who took a special interest in it, were absent on important business. They had been led to understand only evidence would lx- taken. He thought that they might have been conferred with liefore the contentious clauses were put through. ,