PARLIAMENT AT WORK

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 254, 21 July 1920, Page 8

PARLIAMENT AT WORK

BURDENS OF THE TREASURY BOOKMAKERS AND BETTING . i ■ THE EVILS OF RACE GAMBLING

The proceedings of the House were perhaps as interesting yesterday as on any day of the session to date. In the afternoon, on the proposals of the Government to make an increase in tho snlaries of Judges, some members led a campaign- for tetter payment for the jadicial bench, but Mr. Jlassey took theopportunity \o say something about the load the country was being asked to carry for increases in* pay of State servants generally—a burden of two millions a year —and asked members to moderate their 'demands for heavier increases for Judges and other highly-paid officials.

Bills were introduced to provide for increases in the salaries of Magistrates, for the continuance of certain of the War Regulations, and for the payment of additional salaries to members of Parliament, without exemption from income tax,' this proposal in the original Bill as introduced having proved .to be unpopular with-members and the country generally.

But the debate winch held the attention of the House and of the galleries was that on the Gaming Amendment Bill, ivhich proposes that the business of the bookmaker shall be illegal, and that the penalties for breach of the law shall be very severe. Jlost of the racing men in the House applauded the 'intention of the Government to scotch tho bookmaker, agrcoing with the Minister in his proposition that the bookmakers wore responsible for some of the abuses of the turf to-day, an 3 for a great deal of the worst form of race betting in the community. Some, but not . all, of the racing men urged that the best way to gfct'rid of the bookmaker would be to make it legal once more for persons away from the course to telegraph wagers to the machine, and to allow the restoration of the double totalisator. It was clear that amongst them also tho suppression of totalisator dividends found no favour. The opponents of all forms of raeo gambling, with the single exception of Mr. Isitt, did not speak to the Bill at all. Mr. Jt'Combs at length moved an amendment to ask the Government to take a referendum on the abolition of the totalisator and the abolition of it'e bookmaker, but this proposal was negatived by 40 votes to IG. No other business was taken, and '.he House rose at 9.35 p.m.