JOTTINGS FROM THE PRESS GALLERY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12968, 22 November 1907, Page 8

JOTTINGS FROM THE PRESS GALLERY.

"I have no hesitation in saying that this ia a bookmakers' Bill from start to finish," said Mr Rutherford. In regard to tho clause licensing bookmakers, ho sand it slhonld bo optional, and not mandatory upon the clubs, but ho understood tho Premier would not giv© way on that point. Ho (Mr Rutherford) did not see why he should suibmit such a dlauso unless he was the friend of tho bookmakers. He had, however, never heard it stated that tho Premier had a lLfctlo ,"bii" on with tho bookmakers. (Laughter.) Ho did not know whether he could say that of c.U th<» rest of tho Cabinet (More laughter.) Mr Jonninga read to tho House n letter from a sporting writer of over twenty-five years' experience, condemning the .totalisator, and stating that the gambling mania was eating into the vitals of the people. "If ho line, boon ... sportiug writer for twenty-five j-eo-ra, and has been giving tips,' he must be « very inconsistent man,'' replied an hon. member. Mr Jennings also rend a newspaper paragraph stating that money had bsen rung on the totalisator at the Christchurch races five minutes after a race hod been concluded. If tin's *ort of thing was done people would, he said, naturally be suspicious. Mr Davey warmly repudiated any suggestion of fraud in connection with tho management at Christchurch. There wa» no fmud at all. Tlio men were simply ringing up the totals invested lief ore the starting of the race. Mr Jennings, ho added/had no right to mike such a statement. Mr Jennings explained that he had no intention of imputing fraud, but ho did wy that in the minds of the general public there was a feeling of uneasiness when fivo minutes after a race had been run, thirty-five tickets had been rung on. --lr Davey: That is quite another story. ■Mr Jennings: If I conveyed that impression I _.m sorry I have done go. "Russia will be a lovely place compared with this countiy/' said Mr Symos, the member tor Pat. a. "Cr.U this democratic X<wv Z,.v.1..nd." hadded, with scorn, "you won't J>o able to find a word that* will describe the tone in this country direct Iv. We shall all have wings' and Jews' harp* beforo very long, or it we don't ii won't be the fault of the legislation. I hope when I get to the next country I won t meet a lot of the people I nave to meet here." (Laughter.)