THE CRUCIAL DIVISION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12593, 8 September 1906, Page 10

THE CRUCIAL DIVISION.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") ■WELLINGTON, September 7. The following is the division list on tho annindinent moved by Mr F. M. B. Fisher on Mr Ell's Totalisator Abolition, Bill: — li That the second reading bo taken on the 26th inst.. and that a provision be included in the Bill for reducing the number of totalisator permits by one half, until the machine is abolished":—

In. connection with the division, Mr Ell says that tho closeness of the numbers indioatee tho high-water mark for some years of the popular, feeling against the machine. The amendment favouring the reduction of the permits wae lost only by six votes, and Messrs McLachlan andFlatman, who it is eaid would have favoured this amendment, ■were not in the Houee when the division was taken. In the report of the debase on the second reading of Mr ElTs Totalisator Abolition Bill, the Press Association's "message stated that Mr Davey spoko in support of th« Bill. This was a mistake, as Mr .Davey opposed the Bill. THE NUMBER OF PERMITS. (SPECIAL TO "THI PBKSB.") WELLINGTON", September 7. In the House this afternoon, Mr Tanner gave notice to introduce a Bill to reduce the number of totalisator permits. AUSTRALIAN COMMENT. Tho question of the totalizator has given rise to somo controversy in Australia. Tho 'Australasian , has the following:— "Mr Bent says the totalisator has been a failure "in New Zealand and South Australia. Who told him so? One of tho anti-gambling agitators presumably. Those anti-gamblers will persist in quotiaig Sir Robert Stout on tho totalisator. ~ For obvious reasons they shy clear of the opinions of practical men, such as Sir George Clifford, Mr Geo. G. Stead, and Mr George M'Lean. These three gentlemen are highly respected throughout Now Zealand, and t-hev own horses, but never bet. Mr M'Lean, of Dunediii, holds a high position in various capacities. His verdict on the totalisator appeared in our New Zealand letter recently, but 1 will give it again :—'Mr M'Lean said that ho was in a peculiarly good position to deal with tho matter, as he never betted a shilling on his own or any man's horse. The Council of J Churches did not realise what they were doing. Did they desire to ro back to tin* system of bookmakers, whom they saw living in luxury ? uiit tJiey understand that by keeping up tliiw agitation they were only limiting the cluiw getting totalisator permits? There 'vrero in tho colony S3 racine aivd Hi trotting clubs, with permits, in all 99 club* oi-t of 256 chile holding meetings. It was the 157 clubs that could: not get totalisator permits who kept up tJie bookmakers, . . . Tho clubs only used the totalisator to increase stakes, keep up their racecourses, and carry on racing. They had done away with proprietors , chibsj, and racing was now being conducted in a straightforward and , honest way, more honestly than in any other part of the world. Tho opponents of the totalisator were working in the dank, and did not seftk for informatkm from those who could giyo jt. Out of 82 dube holding permits. 22 held only one-day moot ings, and six of the trotting clubs held only a one-day meeting in tho year. Surely t3iese p<>ople did not grudge a district having a meeting oncb a year.' The anti-gam-blors think they can put .down betting. As Martini Cobhett wrote in his last book:—'There ia as much chance of stopping hotting as there Sβ of stopping birds from mating in the spring."

For tho amendment (29). Aitken Kirkbride K. 6. Allen Laurenson J. Allen. It. McKenzie Arnold McXab Barber ■ MePherson Barclay Malcolm Buddo i'aeeey Ell Ngata Fisher Poole Fowlds Remington Gray Sidey Hall-Jones Steward Hanan Tanner Horneby Ward Jennings Against the amendment (35). Alison Lawry Baume Lethbridge Bennett Lewis Bollard ilcGowan Carroll Tvlajor Colvin Millar Davey Parata Dillon Poland Duncan Read Field Rhodee A. L. D. Fraser Ross W. Fraser Rutherford Grexsnslcd© Seddon Hardy Smith Heko Synms Horrira Witty H<inn Wvoil Kidd