LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1898, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Friday,

In the Legislative Council to-day the Tramways Act Amendment Bill was read a second time.

THE SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS BILL.

was debated on a motion by the Minister of Education for its second reading. The Minister disclaimed any intention of forcing the Bill until the existing separate institutions had expressed their views upon it. He thought the separate institutions should either maintain their voluntary contributions pr revert to the district Boards.

The Hon. Mr McCuHough objected to the clause empowering the Charitable Aid Boards to shut up an institution whose subscriptions fell short of £100. An institution's usefulness could not be judged by the amount of its subscription. Hawke's Bay, Nelson, Grey, South Canterbury, Thames, and Coromandel had each subscribed voluntarily less than £100 last year. The reason of the falling off was that there was now a general rate, and private persons were averse to paying twice. The dlebate was adjourned until Tuesday next. THE ONEHUNGA CEMETERY BILL passed through committee with oil t alteration, and was put through its remaining stages. Truly Sir Maurice O'l-orke, after fourteen years' of unremitting energy and perseverance, nay well exclaim, 'All things come to bim who will but wait? SUPPRESSING STREET BETTING. Drastic as is the measure introduced by the, Government for the suppression of street betting and 'tote' shops, the second reading of the Gaming and Lotteries Bill was passed in the Council this afternoon without a division. In introducing, the quels tion the Minister of Education said the object of the Bill was to give increased powers , for suppressing the worst forms of the gambling vice, such as street betting. Greater facilities also were provided for detecting and suppressing the abuses in existence. While agreeing with giving the police increased powers, the Hon. Bonar doubted whether they were not being carried to far. He quoted as an illustration the clause where a police warning was to constitute presumption of knowledge by owners of gaming houses. The principle of the Bill was heartily approved of by the Hon. Mr Bonar in that it struck at a grievous clanger to the young. The Hon. Mr Jones supported the Bill, but considered the police wetre remiss in suppressing gambling. The Hon. Lee Smith pointed out the evils of 'tote' betting, which gave an advantage to the bookmaker, who watched the machine, over the unsuspecting backer whose money was invested with him —a system of licensed bookmakers would be preferable. The Hon. George McLean, whose remarks as President of a Metropolitan Racing Club were listened to with attention, strongly opposed the idea, of re-introducing bookmakers instead of the totalisator. The street betting was, he admitted, a nuisance, but the stringent provisions of the Bill would meed consideration. \ The Hon. Mr Jennings considered the totalisator was responsible for the increase of gambling. He argued thai street betting' should be suppressed, but feared that the Bill placed too much power in the hands of constables. The Hon. Mr Jenldnson a.lso protested against the power of arrest given to the police, more especially as the clause in question practically precluded bail being obtained. The Minister, in reply, disclaimed any desire to talk cant, but felt that the churches were to blame for conn* tena.neing even innocent gambling in the form of lotteries. If they preached against the vice they should use every effort to .break down the gambling habit of the country. The Bill was then read a second time without dissent.