WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1920, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

RAMBLING AMENDMENT. THROUGH COMMITTEE. ■ . (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, July 23. The Gaming Act Amendment Bill, , popiilarlf known as the Bookmaker Extinction Bill, got through committee in • the House of Representatives on Wednesday night with less damage than waa' feared by its friends. The only impqrt- - ant amendment effected in the measure was the deletion of the word "sum* mary" from clause 2, thus giving the accused person the right of trial by a jury. A minor amendment made it clear that the fine of £IOO for betting with a bookmaker was the penalty for this offence, and that amy smaller penalty might be inflicted, and another provided that guilty knowledge must exist to make the issue of book* makers' cards or circulars punlgkaUJfc A proposal to legalise the double iotaV isator was rejected by 42 to 22, a proposal to.permit the publication of total* , isator dividends by 30 to 28, and a proposal that no totalisator permit should be issued or renewed after the comiAg into operation of the Bill by 55 to 6.. The Bill still has to pass through the ordeal of a third reading in the Hook and to make its way through the Couth cil, but it is pretty certain to reach the Statute Book without any further material amendment, Had the MinUter and his colleagues stood firmly on the point, the amendment giving aroused persons the right of trial by jury would not have been carried, but many of their friends were favorable to the concession,, and it is not expected to weaken the measure to the extent Mr. ; Downie Stewart has predicted. The Bill is likely to have an easy passage through the Council. The Hon.. Oliver Samuel, a very prominent figure. Kt th* Racing Conference, is one of the stoat. capable and influential membera of the revising Chamber, and he and Sir I'ranci# Bell, the Leader of the Council, may b» trusted to tee the "Lords". dg duty,-