GAMING LAW.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18100, 16 June 1924, Page 12

GAMING LAW.

PROBABLE PROPOSALS FOR PARLIAMENT.

Among the most interesting of the subjects which will be discussed by the Legislature during the approaching session of Parliament is gaming legislation. A Bill will be introduced by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. E. E. Bollard, and, apart from any of its proposals which may give rise £0 argument, the way will be open for the introduction of highly controversial matter (states Friday's "New Zealand Times"). One of the clauses of the Bill Avill make provision for an increase in totalisatof permits. Probably it will be found that the idea of the Minister in charge of the measure will be to increase the permits for racing clubs by twelve and those for trotting clubs by nineteen. Another provision will be to the effect that clubs changing their constitution will retain the right to their permits. This is designed to meet the ease of a club changing from, say, a trotting club to a. hunt club. It is proposed to make it lawful foT a club to refund money invested on a horse if tho horse is withdrawn from the race before the totalisator closes. The question of the divisions of the big fields will arise, and it is likely that the Bill will propose that the totalisator shall not be open for the purpose of receiving investments more than eight times on any one day at p.ny race meeting. It is understood there will be a stipulation, also, that not more than eight races shall beheld in on© day. The question of the application of assets in the event of the dissolutipn of a club wiil oc -referred to in tho measure in the form of a proposal that no member of a club shall bo doomed to have nny personal pecuniary interest (in Ilia capafcity as a member) in the property of the club, ajid on the dissolution of the club the assets shall bo disposed of for' public or charitable purposes with tho approval of tho Minister. It is expected an attempt will be mad,e to define the powers of totalisator inspectors as a.right to onte-r courses ana totalisator houses and demand information which affects tlie'ir duties. "Wliether the effort to stiffen the provisions aimed kt keening, certain persons off racecourses will Be repeated is not known, but it lias been suggested that the Minister may riot g» on withit. A former attempt to increase the penalties' of those who may bb regarded as trespassers on the courses was strenuously opposed. An endeavour will be. made during the. consideration of the Bill to have a, provision inserted in. the iiieasiire permitting the publication of dividends. It will be argued that thS-'prohibition' of publication tends to increase betting by driving persons iri eeatoh of information about dividends into touch with the only people who have tin information, thus permitting those | people con-; stantly to increase the number of their clients. Further, it will be contended that the present state of things leaves; the way open for anyone so disposed to practise dishonesty.