THE GAMING BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 July 1920, Page 5

THE GAMING BILL.

UPPER HOUSE AMENDMENTS. PUBLICATION OF DIVIDENDS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the Gaming Amendment Bill was committed. On clause two, Sir Francis Bell moved to make a bookmaker liable to summary conviction, explaining that owing to the size of the penalty a bookmaker would still have the right to elect trial by jury. The amendment was adopted. A .further amendment by Sir Francis Bell to increase the penalty for a person betting with a Bookmaker to a maximum of six months and to give the right of trial by jury was carried. In answer to the Hon. W. J. Geddes, Sir, Francis Bell said he would consider the possibility of widening the definition of a bookmaker to make certain of catching those who were engaged in bookmaking as a side line. The Hon. E. Mitchelson moved to repeal section 28 of the principal Act to provide for secretaries of racing cltlbs receiving by telegram instructions for investment on the totaliaator. The amendment was adopted by 22 votes to 12. The 1 Hon. W. H. Triggs' amendment to allow the publication was carried by 23 votes to 10. The Hon. A. Cohen's amendment to restrict meetings between May 1 and August 31 to seven races per day was carried by 18 votes to 12, but the Hon. G. J. Smith's proposal to reduce the number of races to six per day was lost by 18 to 12. The Hon. E. W. "Alison then moved to legalise too us» of the "double" totalisator Progress 1 was reported, Sir Francis Bell promising to resume consideration of ' the Bill to-morrow, and the Council rose at 5.50 p.m. "