NINE RACES AUTHORISED

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30218, 24 August 1963, Page 10

NINE RACES AUTHORISED

Gaming Act Amendment (Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. August 23. Authority for racing and trotting clubs to open the totalisator on up to nine instead of the present limit of eight races at a meeting is offered in the Gaming Amendment Bill introduced in Parliament. This provision is believed to have been mad? instead of increasing the number of permits for race meetings, for which some clubs have been pressing. Another amendment to the Gaming Act concerns the disconnexion of the telephone used by a convicted bookmaker. The bill provides that if a person is convicted of bookmaking an order may be made, as an additional penalty, directing the disconnexion of a telephone for up to three years. The defendant may be prohibited from obtaining any other telephone connexion for that period. If the defendant is not the occupier of the premises in which the telephone is installed, the occupier may be heard on the question before the order is made. If the defendant is the lessee of the telephone, the order may apply to all the connexions he leases. Provision is made for any person affected by the order to apply for the removal of the order and the court may take into account hardship to him or his family, the character erf the applicant and the likelihood of the telephone being used for bookmaking.