GAMING LAWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 190, 13 August 1934, Page 3

GAMING LAWS.

AMENDMENT BILL. "BLOCKED BY A MINORITY." GOVERNMENT HELP WANTED. "I mentioned at the last annual meeting that an attempt was being made in Parliament to amend the Gaming Act in the direction of allowing the installation of a double totalisator at race meetings, the transmission of investments through the Telegraph Office and the publication of dividends, and I expressed the hope that this would become law," said the president of the Auckland Pacing Club. Mr. O. Nicholson, at the. annual meeting of the club this afternoon. This hope, ho regretted to say, was not realised, as the bill was never allowed to go to the votes of the members of Parliament, but was blocked by the actions of a few opposing members from receiving that consideration which its Importance to the sport deserved. The Government could materially assist in having consideration given to such an amending bill by affording facilities for it, if it was satisfied that the forms of Parliament wore being availed of by a minority of its members to block the bill going to the vote of the House. These facilities should be extended, as the Government derived a large revenue from racing in the Dominion, which was likely to be increased if the privileges proposed by the bill were granted. There could not be any logical reason for the withholding of these privileges, he continued, as the totalisator was the only medium by which racing patrons were permitted to make their investments. The withholding of them drove investments into illegal channels, from which the Government got no taxntion, while the granting thereof would result in a substantial increase of revenue, which was most requisite under existing conditions. It should bo apparent to the Government that owners were now directing their attention to racing their best horses in Australia, where inducements were more attractive than they were here, and afforded reasonable chances of their continuing in the sport without loss. This must have a prejudicial effect upon horse racing here, as if their best horses were racing in Australia, and not in the Dominion the patronage extended to race meetings would be reduced, bringing in its train a shrinkage in totalisator investments. Incidentally the Government's revenue therefrom would be very materially lessened. It behoved the Govornmnt to pay attention to tho views and protests of those interested in the conduct of the sport if it was desired that the sport of racing should lie conserved. He again expressed the hope that some attempt would be made to pass a bill during this session of Parliament. Such a bill, in conjunction with reduced taxation, would go a long way towards helping to remedy the unsatisfactory conditions under which racing was now conducted.