NEW GAMING ACT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 89, 8 January 1908, Page 9

NEW GAMING ACT.

DR. FINDLAY INTERVIEWED. THE CLUBS AND THE BOOKMAKERS. (bt telegraph—press association.) Chrlstohurch, January 7. ', In the course of an interview this morning the Hon. Dr. Findlay stated, in referenco to the now Gaming Act, that the largo clubs woro giving far less trouble than tho smaller ones, the latter being inclined to impose impossible conditions. " It is quite clcar," the Attorney-General said, " that if clubs like those at Auckland and Christchurch are content to charge bookmakers £20 a day, and admit their clerks free, it is unreasonable for tli'o sniallor clubs to charge £20 each for the bookmaker and his clerk.'" Tho. most influential and. best friends of racing in New Zealand are endeavouring to mako Section 35 work smoothly, and their influence will' doubtless succced in producing this effect." " Tho statement has been made," tho reporter interposed, " that tho Act does not confine betting •to the altogether.",

"That is so," the speaker admitted' readily. "There is a good deal of misconception as to the effect of the Act. Before it, wa3 passod a bookmaker could bet anywhere ho chose so long as he-did not do it on tho street or in a common gaming house. Tho present Act limits tho places whoro.hotting may be carried on, but still leavcs.it free' to ,the,bookmaker to, make bets in any place not expressly mentioned' or prohibited by the Act. Thero is no reason, for instance, why ho should not bet in his own home so long as ho does not mako a common gaming house of it, or set up a regular place where hotting is carried on. Tho cardinal change made by the ,Act is that betting, upon' any contingency, ' excepting horse-racing, is illegal. Olio may'bet on a horse raco any: where so long as he is liot in a place, mentioned and prohibited 'by the Act, such as the street, public 1 places, or ' any regular 'tote' shops." 7' ' ! .

■ '"Is any improvement noticeable yet?" " Well, from careful inquiries made' in, Auckland ; 'from racing men and the police, I-ascertained that the better "class of.'book: makers wero .' strenuously attempting to coniply witlr all the conditions of ' their ■licenses, and to observe tho law. Moreover, I learned /that they, aro going to do their best to provent any of their class bringing anything in-the shape of reprisals upon them 'by., breaking the law. I believe thoy are forming somo sort of an association to at'tempt' to' maintain somo standard of character and financial status as a basis of admission. It is, of course, far too early to decido definitely, whether Section 35 is going to. bo 1 successful in practico or not. Somo. men experienced in these matters'say tho. now' broom'; is sweeping clean, and that tho bookmakers are on tho best of good behaviour. In the meantimo I am not in a position to dccide that question. l ean only • say that the information so far received is all in their favour."