THE GAMING BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 25 November 1907, Page 2

THE GAMING BILL.

PASSED INTO liAW. Per Press Association. Wellington, Friday. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, the Gaining Act Amendment Bill was received from the House and read the lirst time. The Attorney-General immediately moved the second reading. Hon. 11. I\ Wigram congratulated the Government on the boldness it had displayed in dealing with this question, lie objected to clause 35 (licensing bookmakers). Betting should lie strictly confined to totalisators. He hoped the clause licensing bookmakers would be struck out.

A long discussion ensued mainly in support of the Bill.

Hon. T. K. Macdonald attacked the Bill. lie particularly condemned the clauses for licensing bookmakers. In replying, the Attorney-General said it would be the veriest cant to deny that associated with our vigorous national life there was an evil which the Hill sought to minimise. The second reading was carried on the voices and the measure was immediately committed.

All the clauses up (o clause -10 were curried without amendment. Hon. .1. 10. Jcnkinsou moved to add to clause 31 a provision making it an offence to publish tlie names of winners of prizes in any sweeps or lotteries.— Defeated on the voices, When the Council resumed in the evening, Hon. W. F. Wig-ram moved to

strike out the first line of clause 3o with a view to testing the question of the continuation of the totalisator.— Lost by 14 to fl.

The*same clause says:—"Racing clubs authorised to use the totalisator shall issue licenses to bookmakers who in the opinion of the committee of such club are lit and proper persons." Hon. S. T. George moved to sulietitule the word "may" for "shall."—]*st by 11 to 7.

Clause 37 (inserted at the instance of Mr Davey in the House) reduces the number of days on which totalisators can be used by one-sixlh from August lsf-uext. This was struck out on the motion of the Attorney-General. Hon. J. 10. Jcnkinsou moved to add to clause 31 (making it an offence to publish the dividend on a horse race) by making it an additional offence to publish "any statement from which the dividend or starting price might be calculated." This, he said, would prevent even publication of figures relating to the support accorded eadi horse. Hon. W. F. C. C'arneross said the Bill hit the Press, and hit it pretty hard. Yet not one murmur had been heard against it. The newspapers would observe the spirit of {he Act. Hon. Dr. Findlay said he had not the slightest doubt reputable newspapers would, but there was no disguising the fact that a section of the Press which Mr Carneross could name would be only too ready to take advantage of the loonhole. '

The addition to the clause was agreed to mi the voices. The Bill was reported with amendments, r.,,,1 a third time, and passed. The Bill as amended was later submitted in the House. The Premier moved that the amendments made by the Council to (he flam, mg and Lotteries Bill should be agreed to. °

Mr. Davcy regretted Hint the Council hail si nick out the last clause, which. would have reduced the number of race iln.vs and which bad ] H ,,,„ j nse rtod in the House by a majority of seven. }re moved an amendment that the Council's amendments should bo agreed to, with the .-.cptioii of the striking out of (lis clans,, referred to.

I he Premier «aid personally lie would like to see the number of race days reduced, but he had pointed out the previous i,ig],t that, if the spirit of compromise were not observed, the Bill would not have a chance of beiii" placed on the Statute Hook. He urg,„! that, as Mr Davcy had had the principle of his proposal observed in the House, ho would be serving the interests of the country if he did not press his amendment. The amendment was negatived bv '7 votes to 21. Mr Massey regretted that the clause had been rejected. He added that this was the lirst Parliament in the world that had granted a legal status to bookmakers.

The Premier's motion was agreed to on Ihe voices.

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