GAMING AMENDMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 151, 29 June 1927, Page 13

GAMING AMENDMENT

A MODEST BILL

FACILITATING TOTE INVESTMENTS.

"NOT A CONTKNTIOUS MEASURE."

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Gaminpf Aincndincnt Bill introduced by Sir G. Hunter is not the contentious measure of last pe**ion, hut consists of throe ,-hort clauses, all seeking to re-enact matters which formerly were legal. One proposes to repeal section '2S of the principal Act, which would have the effect of allowing totalisator inaMments tr> bo telegraphed to the ■M-retary of a raci. ■•_' club under contml of which the race ineetinjr is I'cing held. It is proposed to remove the restriction on publication of dividends, and also authorise (as was formerly the case) the use of a double totalisator.

Questioned by your correspondent regarding the prospects of his modified bill, Sir 0. Hunter slated with confidence that there is a large majority of the FToii<e pledged to support all its clauses. He had purposely refrained from including any of the contentious matter which formerly prevented its passape. For instance, tliouirli stronply urpeil to do so. lie had refrained, in the interects of the bill from including a clause limiting the number of races in any day, or in - .'reasinfj the amount of refund made by the Government out of totulisator dividends for the purposes of course improvements. During the recess a deputation had asked the Prime Minister to introduce legislation amending the TiunVin? Act. While declining tlie Prime Minister had undertaken to give facilities for its consideration by Parliament if a measure were iiHrt>diiced by a private member. '"The Racing Conference and the Sports' Protection League," added Sir (•. Hunter, ''asked me to take charge of the bill, and, with this assurance I took the first opportunity of 1 ■ I;i<■ in;_r it on the Order Paper."'