THE GAMING BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 252, 23 October 1924, Page 4

THE GAMING BILL.

In its long "stonewall" of the Gaming BiH Parliament is not an attractive spectacle. We say this not because we strongly approve of the BUI or lack sympathy with some of the arguments of its critics. The business of buttressing and extending the totalisator system is little better than a choice between evils, and a, choice all the more unsatisfactory because it is notorious that the other evil continues to flourish. And the Labour party we believe to he justified in taking up the cause of the jockeys. Is the opposition, entitled, however, to kill the Bill by exhausting the patience of the House? There is a substantial majority in the House for the Bill, yet members who oppose the increase hi the number ot permits and object to the Bill oh other grounds keep the House sitting up all night in an attempt to override this opinion, and this is done towards the end of a session in which there- has already been much waste of time. The Prime Minister waa right in urging that "The principles of democracy demanded that the House should observe the verdict and allow the business to proceed." This gambling controversy cuts across party lines, so it is improbable that if Mr. Massey had made the Bill a parry question the position would be much better, but this practice of bringing down contentious measures and, so to speak, flinging them on the floor of the House, makes one realise that there is a good deal to be said for party Government, and that if all legislation were presented in this way Parliament would get very little done. Organised opposition such as ia now blocking the ("faming Bill must injure the prestige of Parliament in the opinion of the average voter. If the House approves of a Bill, than Bill, after reasonable time has been given for discussion, should go through.