POLL ON BETTING OFF COURSES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25607, 23 September 1948, Page 6

POLL ON BETTING OFF COURSES

PARLIAMENT

Bill Introduced In House

COMMENTS BY OPPOSITION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 22. Provision for a referendum on the proposal that provision be made for off-course betting on horse races through the totalisator by means to be provided by the New Zealand Racing Conference and the New Zealand Trotting Conference, is made by the Gaming Poll Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. The date of the referendum is to be fixed by Order-in-Coun-cil.

When the Governor-General’s message giving the draft of the bill was received, the Chairman of Committees (Mr Clyde Carr) read the title: “An act to provide for a poll relating to off-course betting on horse races.” Mr M. H. Oram (Opposition. Manawatu): Some message.

Mr J. T. Watts (Opposition. St. Albans): What about another Royal Commission to decide if we should have a poll?

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) said the report of the Royal Commission on Gaming would be discussed with the second reading of the bill. The measure was an important bill dealing with an important subject. Mr T. C. Webb (Opposition. Rodney): Therefore you pass the buck.

The Minister said the off-course betting system was that recommended by the commission and would work through the totalisator.

Voting in the referendum will be on the Parliamentary franchise. A schedule to the bill gives the form of voting paper. The proposal is to be followed by two lines containing the words: “I vote for the proposal” and “I vote against the proposal.” The voter will be asked to strike out one line, leaving untouched the line which shows the way he wishes to vote. A poll of electors in each electoral district, including Maori electoral districts, is to be taken on a day to be fixed by the Governor-General. The poll is to be taken in the same manner as if it were a general licensing poll. The day of the poll shall not be a half-holiday. An employer shall, on the day of the poll, allow every worker to leave his work for a reasonable time to record his vote and no deduction shall be made from his remuneration in respect of any time not exceeding one hour occupied in voting An elector of the Mapri electoral district. instead of voting at a Maori polling place, may vote at any European polling place in the district concerned. Provision is made for Maori electors outside their districts to vote as absentees. The roll for each electoral district at the poll shall be the roll used at the last election of the member of Parliament for the district concerned. plus a supplementary roll to close day fixed by Order-in-Council. '

A clause empowers the making o regulations to give full effect to the provisions of the bill.