THE GAMING BILL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13888, 12 November 1910, Page 11

THE GAMING BILL.

(trfss association telegram.) WELLINGTON, November 11. In tin 1 Legislative Council this evening. The Hon. T>r Findlay moved the f -eeond reading of the Gaming Act Amendment Bill, the provisions of winch he briefly explained.

The Hon. J. D. Ormond seconded the motion. In many respects, he said, the Bill went in the right direction in which alt true sportsmen wished to see the law amended, particularly as regards bookmakers. There were, however, several points on which the Bill should lie amended to make it satisfactory. He objected to Sub-clause 2 ot Clause T), which provides that the Commission in determining the clubs to which licenses shall be granted shall give preference to those clubs which use the totalisator at one meeting only in any year. The Attorney-General promised to have the sub-section struck out when the Bill was in committee. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose until Monday.

THK HON. .1. 0. ORMOXIVS VIEWS.

(arEriAr, to ''the tress.'" , ) "WELLINGTON, November 11. Speaking on the second reading <">f the Gaming Hill, in the Legislative Council to-day, the Hon. J. T>. Ormond said that the Bill in many res ports went in a way which all true sportsmen wished to sen the law amended. This applied ]>articnlarly to the bookmaker clause.s. The bookmaker had got into the sport against the ronionstraiice of the racing clubs; the Racing Conference had dissented from his being made a power in the land. A groat'deal of the administration in the future was to rest with a commission instead of with the Racing Conference, which the Government had very wisely accepted in the past. The only objection he had to the Commission was that they did not know how it was to be formed. If it was put into the hands of men who had r.o knowledge of the duties, it would be disastrous to the sport. A great measure of the success would rest with the men appointed. He hoped that the. Government would make a most careful selection.

The Hon. Dr. Findlay: I suppose the Racing Conference would adviso them?

Continuing, the Hon. Mr Ormoiul said he hoped that in the selection men would be chasen who could well perform the onerous duties that would fall on them. He took strong exception to tho clause inserted in "another place." providing that in determining the clubs to which totaliaator licenses shall be granted, preference shall be given to clubs using the totalisator at one meeting only in any year.

The Hon. Dr. Findlar: I am going to ask the Council to strike out tho amendment made in another place. The Hon. Mr Ormond said ho was very glad to hear this; it would be absolutely ruinous to the sport in Xcw Zealand if it wero kept in. Ho did not think racing men as a whole thought the 250 days was too low a TUimixn- provided. If the Commission did its work with a knowledge of the subject they would be able to amalgamate small meetings held within a close radius.

At this stage tho Attorney-General said he h.id some amendment** to put into the Dill, and he thought he ought to explain them before the Council went into committee on the Bill.

The debate was then adjourned