QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25932, 12 October 1949, Page 4

QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS

; BILL MAY NOT GO TO COMMITTEE NO TELEGRAPHING OF BETS (New Zealand Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 11. 5 There was a brisk discussion, with r frequent interjections by members ? socking information about oft-course 7 betting proposals, on the introduction 3 I of the Gaming Amendment Bill in the ’ House of Representatives to-day. 1 The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) said the purpose of the " bill was to amend the gaming legis- ’ lotion to implement the very emphatic endorsement by the people ot , the proposal for off-course betting and ’ to give effect to some other recom- \ mendatious of the Royal Commission 1 on Gaming. 2 "Hooray,” called one member of the - Opposition when the bill was anz nounced. “At long last,’’ said another. ) The Leader of the Opposition (Mr i S. G. Holland) asked if it were in's tended to refer the bill to a committee i to hear evidence. If it were not going to a committee was the House to be r asked to put the bill through without 3 hearing evidence. Surely people who wished to make representations were ' not going to be shut out without being 1 hoard? £ Mr Parry: They have already been consulted. Not a Parly Question 1 Mr Holland said he knew some * people who had not been consulted. ’ The matter was not a party one. The public had asked for it by referen- ; dum. ; The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) , said the second reading could be taken f and it could be seen what the position 1 was then. Mr Parry said it was not intended I to submit the bill to a committee as . the people had already been consulted 1 on the principle of the bill. If the demand by the House was sufficiently - strong for the bill to go to a commit- - tee after the second reading, he would J have no objection to its going to the 2 Statutes Revision Committee. He had - intended to say that. 1 After a brief explanation of the bill J had been given by Mr Parry, Mr Hol- - land asked the Minister if he could give any indication of the cost of the j scheme. f Mr Parry said the cost would be t borne by the Racing and Trotting Con- ] lerences, but there was provision for 2 (he Government to give some assistance by way of loan. - Mr Holland: Have they agreed to ? Mr Parry said there was full agrees ment on the principle of the bill. The - conferences would appoint the members of the Totalisator Agency Board. 1 The Government had no say in that. r It was the full responsibility of the conferences. a Allocation of Permits 1 Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Taulanga): Who will allocate the extra 1 permits? ' A voice: Are the bookies represented “ on the board? 2 Mr Parry said permits would be alloZ cated in consultation with the Trotting Conference. The Government's policy was not to eliminate clubs that . were already providing recreation for » their districts. Mr Fraser said he did not antici- £ pate that anyone would want to give 1 evidence. It was obvious that the con- - ferences should have the responsibility > of running off-course betting. The • question of finance was an unknown . quantity and it was only right that • credit should be made available. , Mr C. M. Bowden (Opposition, r Karori): Who will pay the overtime . to the Post and Telegraph employees? Mr Fraser said there would be no > telegraphing of bets provided for. He . was informed that telegraphing would cause a great deal of disappointment and confusion because of the backing l up at the encl of the week. The people . did not want the Government to get > involved in a scheme which was pre- . eminently a matter for the confer- » ences. Mr A. S. Sutherland (Opposition. I Haurakp: Don’t you think it fair the - Government should pay something i seeing it gets so much in taxation from ■ racing? r Mr Fraser said that if he floated a ■ company for off-course betting and wanted the member for Hauraki to ; put some money into it, he was sure ’ Mr Sutherland would jump at it. Even a wayfarer or a fool would jump at * it.