PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8231, 7 September 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUbE OP REPRESENTATIVES,

i By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, September 6. The House met at 2.30 o'clock. FIRST READINGS. The Advances to Settlers Consolidation Bill and the Coal Mines Act Amending Kill were read a tlist time. QUACKERYANDOTHER i'RAUDS PREVENTION BiLL. Mr Hornsby moved the second reading of this measure. The Premier supported the Bill. He had heard a good deal aboat the abominations the Bill aimed at during bis reoent travels. The Post-master-General of the United States had enlarged on the subject, informing Lira that be had.been obliged to secure legislative sanction for absolutely stopping the delivery through the Post Office of newspapers and peiiodioals and circulars containing matter of this nature. Mr Hornsby iuterjectod that the Bill contains such a provision. Mr Siday supported the Bill, and oited a number of reports and documents in support of Mr Hornsby, und pointed out some committee übjeotious. Mr Hanan congratulated Mr Hornsby on bis Bill. At the same time he thought the Bill wenS too far against the unregistered nraotitiouer. Mr Allen (Bruce) approved of the pnnoiple of the Bill, but he thought there were worse things than medicines. Mr T. Mwckenzie liked the reoep* tion the Bill had met with from the various sources, and added to the evidence of its necessity, and hoped mucb from the proved courage of the officer at the head of the Health Department. He said he would vote for the second reading. Messrs Remington Pooie, Laurenson, Herries andjjßarolay, and the Hon. W. Hall-Jones supported the Bill. Mr Massey had much sympathy with that part of tho Bill whloh aimed at evil doers, but ne thought its provisions too drastic against the distribution of simple remedies used in the country districts. The House adjourned for dinner at 5.30 p.m.

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30. The Quaokery and Other Frauds Prevention Bill was read a seaoud time. TOTAL!SATOR ABOLITION BILL.. Mr Ell, who moved the second reading, urged the House to consider the illogioality of the position. The worst gambling maahine in the country was encouraged by th<* Legislature, while restrictions were heaped up in a large number of minor gambling evils. The totalsator bad taught many to gamble—young people and women—who never dreamt of gambling before its arrival. lJe claimed that the late Right Hon. Premier had agreed with him in condemning this maohine. Mr McLacblan thought the hon. member was undertaking a task beyond hiß strength. However, he sympathised with him. He would support the Bill. Mr Herries congratulated the mover on,the moderation with which he did his work. He thoogbtjjif his friend would go and see the race meetings he would change his mind. He could tell him that the totblisator increased the stakes for racing and found the meaus for improving the grounds, stands, etc. Was his friend prepared to sweep that away. He assured him that his experience was tbat the totalisator enabled the racing authorities to keep the sport cleaner and purer. The sport was a thing to consi ler as free from ail meroenary motives. The hon. gentleman would not go so far as to abolish racing, and racing would be impossible without gambling of some kind, and the totali- ! sator provided the least objection- | able method. Msny of the owners did not patronise the machine at all. They found the stakes sufficient. He agreed that betting had greatly increased of late years, but no one could say that was due to the totalisator. Gambling had increased in other countries, where there was no totalisator as was shown [by the Bishop of Hereford's Committee of the House of Lords. That oommittee found at the same time that the bet- [ ting on the part of racehorse/) wners had greatly diminished. He urged the hon. gentleman tn join with the Racing Clubs and help them to free raolng from the scum of tho turf. If the hon. gentletuan would show , him some form of betting more easily controlled, he would jcin him against the totalisator. He remembered the pre totalisator days when the bookmaker was in oommand, and he did not want to sue tlaat state of things a«ain. Mr Rutherford moved tho adjournment of tho debate. The Speaker ruled that it was not open to him to do bo. Mr Qanau supported the Bill. Mr Sidey dwelt on the evils of the totalisator, which call for a drastic remedy. Mr Darey moved the adjournment of the flebate. Mr Poole opposed the motion, whioh waß lost by 27 to 34. Mr Jennings supported the Bill, urging that race meetings are too numerous. Mr Witty opposed the Bill. ■ Mr Fisher moved an amendment that the second reading should be taken on the 26th instant, and that provision be included tor reducing tho "number of totalinntor permits by one-half until the totalisator is abolished. Mr Davey opposed the amendment, and supported the Bill. The amendment was oarriei ayes 25, noes 37—and tbe words "the Bill ae now read a second time" were struck oul. On the motion to add the words proposed to be substituted the House divided against the insertion by 29 votes to 35. The Bill was lost. The House adjourned at 11.55 o'clock.