POLITICAL PROSPECTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 103, 3 May 1929, Page 8

POLITICAL PROSPECTS.

GOVERNMENT'S POSITION. PRIVATE GAMING BILL LIKELY. (From Our Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, May 2. Though it is unlikely that the new Government will introduce during the approaching session of Parliament a Gaming Rill, it is quite on the cards that the bill introduced by Sir George Hunter last year, providing for the publication of dividends and for the transmission of investments to the racecourse, will be revived. The Reform Cabinet was divided in regard to Sir George Hunter's proposals, and it is understood that the United Cabinet would be in a similar case were they again submitted to Parliament; but folk who have been counting heads declare that the new House is more favourable to the publication of dividends and the transmission of investments than was the old. It is probable that if a bill of any kind were submitted to Parliament this year an attempt would be made to lessen the taxation upon investments, which, during last racing season, from August 1, 1927, to July 31, 1928, amounted to £564,032, as against £559,027 during the preceding year. The racing clubs' receipts during the corresponding periods amounted to £010,587 and £001,8G0 respectively. The talk of an early session of Parliament with a view to ascertaining the position of the three parties in the House of Representatives has now subsided. The Reform party has no wish to go to the country again just now, realising, no doubt, the time is not opportune for inviting the constituencies to revise their decision of six months ago, and the Labour party is in much the same position, only more so. It looks as though the initiative in this respect rests with the United party. Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues have the advantage of being in possession of the desired. goal, and it is quite safe to assume that they will not allow themselves to be dominated by either Reform or Labour. If anything of that kind were attempted they would seek a dissolution, to which they would be entitled, and, the chances are, would come back with an independent working majority It looks at the moment as if the probabilities of the future lie on the side of the Government holding office for the life of the present Parliament.