AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 101, 19 October 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

N.S.W. PARLIAMENT. THE TOTALISATOR BILL. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, OetobeT 18. In the Assembly Mr. Levien moved the second reading of the Totalisator Bill. He referred to instances where horses had been "dead" through the influence of the bookmaking clement. He had interviewed leading New Zealand sportsmen, and all favored the totalisator. The Australian Jockey Club received £9IOO annually from bookmakers. Altogether the public, had to find £200,000 odd a year for bookmakers.

The Bill proposes that the Government shall receive 5 per cent, of the totalisator receipts. Mr. Levein estimated that six millions would pass through the rriachine annually. He was prepared to accept an amendment that women be not allowed to bet. The Premier said the Bill was outside party politics. Personally he was opposed to it, because they had no right to throw the temptation to gamble in the way of the people. Mr. Levien: Then shut the racecourses. Mr. McGowen said he had been informed of New Zealand factories where women and girls employed were regularly visited by agents of the totalisator. Mr. Levien: The person who furnished the report is a liar. The debate was adjourned. The Herald, supporting the Totalisator Bill, states that if the fraud and chicanery now regularly practised on racecourses was swept away gambling would be cleared of its worst evil.

The Telegraph says it is not a matter of legalising gambling, which is already legalised. It adds: "The opponents of the machine, while condemning the totalisator, always neglect to point out what are the merits of the bookmakers."

The Methodist Church Bill, rendered necessary by the separation of New Zealand from the Australian Conference, was read a second time and' taken through committee. A select committee was appointed to enquire into the cause of the enormous increase in house rents.

Mr. Beebv. speaking at West Maitland, declared that the Government was going to make it harder for men to hold land without use. Largo landholders would be subjected to all sorts of restrictions and to the imposition of tuxes in order to compel them to open up land for settlement. Since the by-election 1331 names have been added to the roll of the Liverpool Plains electorate.

REDISTRIBUTION OF SEATS. Received 1J(, 12..M a.m. Sydney. October IS. After three bourn' debate, the Assembly negatived the motion for adjournment to discuss 'Mr. IToimau's action in placing the plan of redistribution of seats before the Electoral Commission. The inference was that Mr. Holman desired to influence the Commission in the interest of his party. The Premier pointed out that, the Commission had asked for suggestions, and that Mr. Wade had submitted several.

ARBITRATION HILL. Received HI, 1 a.m. Melbourne, October IS. In the House Mr. Deakin resumed the debate on the Industrial Arbitration Amendment Bill. He opposed the powers proposed to be given the court, and said they were based on the idea that all industrial conditions were fixed and could be regulated by time-table. This meant <saparating craft from industry. It would revolutionise or wreck the original Act to make such basic alterations. He moved an amendment thai; no measure the effect of which would be to concentrate in the hands of any one person the control of all industries in the Continent can be other than impracticable and fraught with danger to the whole community. The debate is proceeding.