THE GAMING BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 23 November 1907, Page 2

THE GAMING BILL.

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. SOME NEW PROVISIONS. Per Press Association, Wellington, November 21. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, the debate on the motion to' go into committee on the Lotteries Act was continued.

Mr. W. Fraser contended that the Bill | forced bookmakers on the racing clubs,: and bookmakers were a worse evil than the double totalisator. Mr. Rutherford said that if the Premier would amend Clause 35 (which provides that racing clubs authorised to use the totalisator "shall grant licenses to approved persons to carry on business as bookmakers") to read that clubs "may issue licenses," the Bill would

have his support. Mr, Jennings thought the Bill should receive the support of every member in the House, as it went a great way in the direction of grappling with what was admitted to be a great evil. The motion to go into committee wae carried by 50 votes to 2. On the motion of Mr. Herries, bookmakers' clerks were included in the definition of "bookmakers."

The definition of "racing clubs" was, on the Premier's motion, fixed as "any club, association, or body of persons, whether incorporated »r unincorporated, established for the purpose of conducting or controlling the sport of racing."

Replying to Mr. Wilford, the Premier said Section 3 was intended to make the saie of Tattersall's tickets in New Zealand illegal. At Clause 8, which makes betting by post or telegraph or telephone illegal, Mr. Wilford moved to strike out the words "post or telegraph."—Negatived by 41 voles to I). The clause was passed ■unaltered." At Clause 10 Mr. Wilford moved to

increase the sentence for the offence, to six months' imprisonment, so as to admit of the offender being tried by a jury. The Premier said lie was a believer in trial by jury, hut the position had not been correctly stated. There was under this Bill a right of appeal to a Supreme Court Judge. Mr. Wilford: "Yes, without evidence and no jury! The Premier, continuing, said that if it was desired to make the whole clause worthless, the best way was to give effect to Mr. Wilford's proposal. Mr, Massey supported Mr. Wilford's amendment. The amendment was negatived by 28 votes to 24. The clause was passed unamended. Clause 12 provides that for the purpose of the Gaming Acts any house, office, room, or place which would otherwise be a common gaming house, shall be deemed to be a common gaming house, notwithstanding the fact that it is open only for the use of subscribers or of members or of shareholders of any particular club, company, or corporation, and is not open to all persons desirous of using the same; proyideu"' that this section shall not anv club holding a charter-jssucd under the authority of_the Licensing Act, 1881. __JJx.-Jferi-ies moved an amendment to add the words "or any club registered under the Unclassified Societies Registration Act, 1895.—Rejected by 30 votes to 17.

The clause was passed unamended. Clause 19 makes it an offence to be on premises declared to be a common gaming house unless the person proves that he was, on entering the premises, ignorant that the premises had been declared, and subjects an offender to a fine of not more than £IOO, or imprisonment for not more than three months.

I Mr. Wilford moved to make the sentence six mouths' imprisonment in order to _ enable alleged offenders to appeal to a jury—Rejected by 31 votes to 22. The clause was agreed to on the voices. Mr Hemes moved a new sub-clause, to provide that compensation should be paid to the owner of premises which might be damaged by the police in gaining access to an adjoining gaming house provided that such owner proved he had no complicity with the gaming house-Rejected by 30 votes to 24. On the Premier's motion the publication of starting prices was prohibited. Ihe Premier also moved to prohibit any information as defined by clause 31 being publicly /exhibited. This was agreed to.

A new sub-clause was added to exempt any newspaper published out of New Zealand from the provisions of the clause.

The clause as amended was passed bv 28 votes to 27. r '

At clause 32, which prohibits double heltmg on the totalisator, Mr Remington moved to prohibit the use of the-to-talisator altogether. The .Premier said that if this were carried the Bill would not pass In reply to Mr Lewis, the Premier said he did not intend this to mean that he would drop the Bill if Mr Rcmington s amendment were carried. On division the amendment was rejected by 37 votes to 17.

Sub-clause ■. S of clause' 34 gives power (si, ijecl, t„ the Governorj-a-pjiroval) to P' ,1 ' 1 " 'l'om any specified ■ >ss ot perosns, notwithstanding the i act that the racecourse may form part of a reserve.

Mr Ell moved to strike out the latter part of the proviso. Rejected by 36 votes to 18. .

Clause 35 provides that every racing' el.il) authorised to use the totalisator hall, on application, grant bookmakers'

•Mr (juinncss with a view i,o testing he feeling of U W House as to whethe? larlia meat should legalise bookmakers, moved to strike out the first line of the (latis,.—tins was rejected bv 29 to '4 «•„, !' .. ,' t , t ,' V ,." ,OVO : 1 t0 stl "' to o»t the noid shall license" with a view to inserting 'may liecnse.''-Rejocted by 20

Clause 35 was passed by 28 to 27. Mr Davey moved a new clause to proJ ' , mt ™ C,,, S :'. lu . lw ™ng the totalisatoi should pay dividends to the nearest sixpence.-Carried bv 27 to 23 Mr Davey moved ii new clause "That on an a ter August i et> 1 00 8, n ,„,T »er ol da,ys „„ ,y),ieh tnp totalisator »»> he used at all race meetings shall be reduced by one-aixth."----Carried bv I •'0 to 2,' t , • ]

The Hill, with amendment.,, was reported, read a third time bv n votes to 0, and passed.