GAMING BILL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13251, 9 December 1913, Page 8

GAMING BILL.

— ; — ' ; . ' „ MR 11UXTER AWAITS HIS OPPORTUNITY. ; > (From our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. An unnsual amount of talkativeness about trifles characterised the proceedings of the H\/ase of Representatives yesterday. One could almost imagine that the foundations of a stonewall were being deliberately laid, excepting that legitimate causes for discussion arose over amomhnents made by the "Lords" m the handiwork of the Lower House. Although business started at 10.30 a.m.", it wi ; -• an'r twelve hours before the realcause of discursive comment was ap-. proached. Tt was Mr Hunter's Gaming Act Amendment Bill, for which the Government has promised a chance this session. It seeks to give preference m aUocating totalisator licenses to the claims of tjhiose rao'lng kind tiX)Gtinft; chiba whose licenses were lost 1 or reduced as a. insult of the Gaming Commission's recommendations m 1910;' licenses .to be issued for not more than 1 250 specific meetings, and existing H-' censes not to be prejudiced. Ten more. licenses would be appropriafted by Mr Hunter's Bill to hunt clubs. The efforts to kill , the Bill by the pentle process of delay we're successful np to a. point, for it became known shortly after 11 p.m. that Mr Hunter, for that day at any rate, was not going to enjoy his loner-promised opportunity^ Subsequently the Prime Minister explained thnt as the measure was cont out ions, he would, not, ask the House to take, it that night, bi\t» the Government's ni-omise to Mr Hunter would be kept within a day or two.