PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 188, 18 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph.—Press Association. THE GAMING BILL. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative! Council in the afternoon, the Gaming Bill was considered in committee. The Attorney-General carried an amendment, making the whole of the Act come into operation on January 1 next, instead of on the passing of the Act. Clause 2, dealing with penalties for street betting, was eliminated, and & new subclause was inserted providing for a minimum penalty of £2O for street betting, and for a like fine or imprisonment for three months for any subsequent offence. "Street" is defined as an} public road, or thoroughfare, or lane, footway, or passage; whether a thoroughfare or not, or public or not. Clause 4 was amended, giving any servant of a club or a constable the right to remove offenders from the course, and any person so removed is liable to a conviction of £SO or a month's imprisonment if he re-enters the course on the same day. This is to apply to all racecourses, whether or not subject to right of public entry. At clause 5 (Governor may appoint a commission to determine, the number of licenses to be issued during the year), the Hon. Rigg took strong exception to the clause, as it would, he declared, throw the whole power into the hands l of metropolitan clubs. He moved to strike out the first five words, with the object of killing the clause. Dr. Findlay urged that the Council should.pass the section on the assumption that the commission would be composed of proper persons, and the amendment was defeated by 14 to 13. The Attorney-General moved to strike out sub-clause of clause 5, giving preference in the matter of licenses to thost clubs which use the totalisator at one meeting only in any year. The Hon. Rigg moved a prior amendment to strike out the words "at one meeting" and substitute the words "one day." This, he explained, would give preference to twenty clubs only. If the sub-clause were struck out altogether, the passage of the Bill through the House would be jeopardised. The clause was deleted by 22 to 10. The Council rose at 5.30 p.m. In the evening the Gaming Amendment Bill was resumed in committee. Clause 5, as amended, was passed. On the motion of Dr. Findlay, subsection 1 of clause 6, fixing the dura,tion of race meetings, was struck out. At sub-section 2, "not more than seven races shall be run on any one day ai any race meeting," the Hon. O. Samuel moved to strike out the word ''seven'' in order to substitute "eight." After considerable discussion, the word was struck out by 13 to 12, and the Hon. Samuel's proposal to insert the worel "eight" was agreed to. A new sub-clause was inserted, on the motion of Dr. Findlay, providing penalties for breach of the section by officers or servants of clubs.

A new clause, 4a, was inserted, providing that every license issued in respect of any year after June 30, 1911, shall be issued in respect of a single race meeting, and shall specify the number of days on which the totalisator may be used at that meeting, the aggregate number of days on which the totalisator may be used in the Dominion in any year not to exceed 250, and the number of days the totalisator may be used at any one meeting not to exceed four. A four days' race meeting, at which the totalisator is used, is not to extend over eight consecutive days, a three days' race meeting not to extend over six days, and a two days' meeting not to extend over four days. A proviso gives authority to extend the number of days where inclement weather or any extraordinary circumstances compel the club to postpone the meeting to a later stage. The Governor is empowered to make regulations as to the grant of such licenses, and as to the conditions on which they may be issued.. The Attorney-General inserted a provision making betting on licensed premises illegal. The Bill was reported as amended, read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 0.55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. The committee to whom the petition of A. A. and W. F. Larsen was referred for reconsideration, recommended that the Government should make exhaustive enquiries into the, methods of protection afforded the public in other countries from being misled by life insurance agents, and embody the results in a report to be placed before the House; dlso that legislation be passed this session to protect people from being imposed upon in connection with life insurance policies. The report was adopted. The Monopoly Prevention Amendment Bill (Hon. T. McKenzie) was read a second time. The Hon. Buddo moved the second reading of the Public Holidays Bill. The debate was adjourned. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SESSION.

In the House this evening the debate on the Public Holidays Bill was reslimed. The second reading was carried, and the Bill was referred to the Industries Committee for consideration and report. The second reading of the PublicWorks Amendment Bill was moved by the Hon. R. McKenzie, who explained that the Bill provided that land might be taken for water power and public works. It also granted powers to local authorities to establish swimming baths, lay out and construct streets and footpaths, and restrict heavy traffic on roads.

Mr. Massey said the Bill was a verv important one. Under clause 3, the Minister of Public Works was granted all the powers of a county council. Clause 5 provided that if the construction of a water-race would materially increase the value of land irrigated by it, such land may be taken as for public work as prescribed in the principal. Act, and subject to certain provisos. If the. settlers of Central Otago, who desired the help of the Government in the work of irrigation, could only have State assistance on the terms proposed by the Bill, they would be inclined ,to rely upon their own local bodies to help them in the work of irrigation.

Mr. Allen condemned the clause dealing with irrigation, and expressed surprise at the enormous powers conferred in the Minister under clauses 5 and 8. Under the latter clause the Minister had power to prevent a private individual from using a water supply of his own for purposes of providing electrical energy unless upon conditions laid down by the Minister. Messrs. Scott and Fraser opposed the second reading.

Mr. Fisher moved that the Bill be read that day six months. After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Fisher's amendment was defeated on the voices, and the Bill passed its second reading. The second reading of the Railways Bill was jnoved by Mr. It. McKenzie, and a general discussion ensued, various members pointing to the 1 necessity of railways iu their districts.