THE BOOKMAKER

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 255, 22 July 1920, Page 6

THE BOOKMAKER

GAMING BILL IN COMMITTEE ALLEGED TO BE TOO DRASTIC Tho House of Representatives proceeded with tho consideration of the Gaming Bill in committeo last night. Mr. Wilford (Ilutt), opening a general discussion oil the titlo clauso of the Bill, iibiected to clause 4, which provides that the_ fact of a person having directly or indircctly made a bet, or issued n betting card, shall be sufficient evidence, until the contrary is proved, that, such person is carrying on the business of a bookmaker. He said that the procedure proposed was contrary to British ideas of justice. Tho jurisdiction was to be summary, and there would be no appeal ei' cept on law. A printer who had been connected indirectly with the printing of n double chart could be presumed, under this clauso. to be a bookmaker until ho proved the contrary. The House should notico that any person who made a but with a bookmaker was liable on summary conviction "to a fine of .£IOO or (<> imprisonment for a term of one month.'' Magistrates would interpret these words to mean that no smaller penalties were contemplated by tho Legislature. Tho Minister of Justice (Mr. Lee) said that the law allowed appeal on fact as well as on law when the fine exceeded .£5 or the term of imprisonment exceeded one month. Tho principle of clauso 4 was not new. A person found on licensed premises after hours was presumed to bo guilty of an offence. Mr. Lee nrgued that a person charged under clause 4 could easily prove that lie was not a bookmaker if he really was 'innocent. A printer would not he charged under the clause at all, since the policemen were sensible men. Tho printer in any case could easily prove his innocence, and it was not a fact that tho penalties mentioned wern minimum penalties Trial by Jury. Mr. Holland (Buller) objected to personi< cbarged under th« Bill being .denied trial by ]ttry. He talked of the gaoling of persons by magistrates during the war on charges of "seditious tendency.' His friend the member for Wellington Central had lost a year of his life' in gaol on this charge, without being permitted trial by jury. Mr. Potter (Koskill): ne saved lus -skin at the war. anywav. Mr. Hollnnd continued to speak of tho days whon our men were convicted under the sedition laws." He moved to amend clause 2. which declares a bookmaker to be "liable unon summary conviction to a fine of .£SOO or to imprisonment, for a term of two years," by sh'ikmg out the word "summary." Mr. Leo obiected that this would nullify tho clause, and the Minister of Internal Affaire (Mr. Anderson) urged members to accept the Bill as drafted if tlrey reallv wished to -extinguish the bookmaker' Mr. Lvsnar (Gisborne) said that tho Bill was too drastic, and if it were not amended he would vote against it Mr E. A. Wright (Wellington Su'burbs)' said that he was no supporter of tlip bookmaker, but he thought, the bookmaker had at least as uood a right to trial by jury as criminals. _ At length, on the suggestion of the Minister of Justice (Mr. Lee). Mr. All' derson agreed to accept tilt) amendment asd to delete the word "summary/

A Parallel, A lively discussion took place on clause 4 which prescribes that certain facts shall be accepted as sufficient in the absence of positive proof that the defendant is not engaged in bookmakiiiff. bomo members, with Mr, Wilfnrd, urged thai the clause was unjust. Mr. W. S. Glenn said that the real point was that' tho Houso was asked to make possible the abolition of the bookmaker and his business. long ago declared to be illegal. If the clause were not retained it would not bo possible to defeat the bookmaker. Mr. J. ii. Hamilton had a joke with the House alx>ut the concern of the member for the bookmaker, when they had sat ns members and agreed to the passage of a Bill which practically declared thai tho farmer charged with having rabbits 011 his land was to be held guilty on tho evidence of the rabbit inspector, and was not to have even tho right to call evidence in his own support. Clause 4 Adopted, Clause 4. placing the onus of proof on the person charged with bookmaking, was debated at length. Mr. M'Callum protested against "wasting time on a lot of wowserism,"' and soveral other members suggested that tho bookmaker had friends on the floor of the House. Mr. Downie Stewart said the Minister had damaged the Bill seriously by accepting trial by jury and that the measure would be ruined it' clausS 4 were weakened. Tho principle of placing the onus of proof on the accused person after certain facts, 6uch as the possession of stolen ,goods, had been proved was well established in British law.' Clause 4 was adopted by 49 votes to 18, and the remaining clauses of tho Bill were adopted without debate. The Double Totalisator. Mr. "Wilford moved a new ciause repealing section 31 of the Gaming Act, 1908, which prohibit l ! the double totalisator. Tlit- effect of the amendment, he said, was to legaliso the double totalisator. Mr. G. Hunter (Waipawa) supported this amendment, and assured the House that it wouldjinvo a most boneficial effeet in promoting clean racing. The Minister opposed the clause', but was willing to leave the matter in the hand 9 of tlie House.

Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) said that he was consistent in his desire to eliminate the bookmaker, and he would voto for this l amendment as ono of tho best measures that could be taken to destroy the bookmakor.

Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West) eai<l that he was astounded a 1; the proposal. "It seems," he said, "that we are so anxious to destroy the bookmaker that ive have to do his job ourselves." Ho declared that the real business was "a grab between the bookmakers and tho racing clubs," and for tlie time being the racine clubs hud won. A division was taken on tho amendment at 11.40 p.m. The amendment was rejected by 42 votes to 22 Other New Proposals. Mr. Wilford submitted another amendment to legalise the publication of totalisator dividends. The amendment was defeated by 3G votes to 28. Mr. Parry (Auckland Central) moved a new clause proposing tifnt the rules (?. racing Hubs should not tie sectioned until the Registrar of Industrial Unions was satisfied that fair conditions of employment had been provided for joclcejs and others. This amendment was referred to tho Speaker and ruled out of order. Mr. Isitt moved as a further new cTanso that no totalisator permits should bo issued or renewed after tho coming into operation of tho Act. The totalisator, ho said, would have to go sooner or later. He quoted smiio figures regarding totalisator turnover, ftsul asserted that gambling had become a menace to national morality. Tho amendment was rejected by 55 votes to C. Tho Hill was reported with amendments at 0.30 a.m A LOST SERVICE APPLES FOR SOUTH AMERICA. A statement regarding the export of apples aiid other produce to South America was (jiven to the House yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Noswo'rihy) Nothing definite can bo stated at present regarding tho prospects for direct shipments of New Zealand produce to South America. The Government, has a full realisation of the desirableness of obtaining such shipping facilities, especially as regards fruit and breedingsleek, and is doing all it can in this direction. Shipping companies aro communicating with their principals in London in the matter. The position ns to securing direct shipments is neciwsirily largely influenced by the price at which coal can 'be obtained at Monte Video, at which port steamers Inking this routo have to rcplonish thoir blinkers,