GAMING AND LOTTERIES BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 November 1907, Page 7

GAMING AND LOTTERIES BILL.

COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS,

The Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill has been considered by the special committee appointed to deal with it, and reported to the House. Members interested in racing werp absent _ from the committee whon the Bill was being dealt with, and the chances are that, in consequence of its being considered when they could not attend, it will bo blocked in the House, with tho resultthat thoro will be little chance of its passing this session. It js freoly reported amongst members that one member of the Ministry says it is going through, while another Cabinet Minister says the Bill has not got' a ghost of a chanco this session. Several amendments have been made by the committee in the Bill. Sub-section 5 of section 26 regarding street betting, which provides that a constablo may arrest at any time without warrant, has been struck..out In section-29, which makes it illegal for an .officer of a racing club to accept telegraphic instructions as to investments on tho totalisator, the word " tolephonic " has been added. '' Section 31, prohibiting the publication of advertisement or notification regarding betting on a horse race, or as to investments on the totalisator, has been added to so as , to prevent the'publication of " any information, advice, or suggestion as to the probable result of any such raco." A new clause has been added rendering liable to a penalty of £.%) any person who prints, publishes, or sells any newspaper' or other printed document that contains any statement as to the dividend paid on investments on the totalisator in respect of any horse race, whether run in New Zealand or elsewhere. Section.') 2 has been altered so as to permit of a second-place totalisator dividend. The "five minutes before starting" provision in regard to totalisator investments has been Btruck out. ■ A new clause has been inserted preventing licensed bookmakers from betting after tlie time notified for the starting of a raco. The penalty provided for a broach of tho section is a line , not exceeding £100. When. tho Bill was reported from tho Special Comniitteo with amendments, Mr. Herries s.aid ho had a grievance, inasmuch as thn Bill had been put through while ho and Messrs. Poland and Davoy, who took a special interest in it, were absent on important, business. They had been led In understand : only evidence would bo taken. He thought that they might havo been conferred with before the contentious clauses worn put through.'