GAMING BILL PASSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 30 July 1926, Page 10

GAMING BILL PASSED.

WIRING BETS TO COURSES.

DOUBLE TOTE REINSTATED.

PUBLICATION OF DIVIDENDS,

{By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Unsuccessful attempts were made in the Legislative Council to-day to frustrate the intention of clauses in the Gaming Amendment Bill. Hon. J. B. Gow opposed the clause in regard to telegraphing; to racecourses, on the ground that it would increase facilities for gambling. Considering the moral aspect of the matter, Hon. L. M. Isitt said the clause would inevitably enormously increase gambling. He could not see that it would eliminate the influence of the bookmaker. The bookmaker was as active as ever in England, despite the system of telegraphing bets to racecourses. Hon. Geo. Witty said money would have to be telegraphed, and he did not think that would encourage women and children to bet as had been suggested. Hon Wm. Hall-Jones said thousands of telegrams would pass to and fro on racedays. That would not lessen the gambling evil. Hon. V'ernon Reed said the promoter of the bill really believed the clause would not increase gambling, and that it would serve to eliminate the bookmaker. The clause was adopted, on division, by 17 votes to 9. Mr. Isitts "Moral Atmosphere." The prohibition of publication of dividends, declared Hon. W. H. McIntyre, was one of the most absurd amendments that Parliament had ever passed, because half an hour after the race it was always possible to secure information about dividends paid. Mr. Witty said the order of preference on the totalisator was published, and he did not see what harm publication of dividends would do. Mr. Isitt said he was not very hopeful, for he was conscious of the moral atmosphere in which he found himself. He considered that the greater the facilities which were afforded to racing clubs through the totalisator the more their hands would be strengthened to make racing and betting more alluring.

The dividends clause was retained by 17 votes to 6. "Poor Fools." Consideration was next given to the i clause re-establishing the "double" totalisator. Mr. leitt said that poor fools who invested on the "double" totalisator inevitably Jost, while the bookmaker was enriched. The clause was carried on the voices. Transfers of Licenses. The division on the clause which seeks to penalise those who re-enter a racecourse after having been removed, saw the clause adopted by 15 votes to 8. By the deletion of certain words in the next clause, the reasons for permitting the transfer of totalisator licenses from one course to another were limited to the carrying out of improvements or reconstruction. All the remaining clauses were taken to divisions, but survived, and the bill, with one minor amendment, was put through its final stages and passed.