THE BOOKMAKERS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 235, 30 June 1922, Page 4

THE BOOKMAKERS

A FLOOD OF PETITIONS OVER 80,000 SIGNATURES The petitions asking for the reinstatement of the bookmakers reached tho House of Representatives in a flood yesterday afternoon. It appeared' that the promoters of these petitions have entrusted one to each member of the House without any regard at all for personal opinion and party colour. About forty of the documents were presented during the afternoon, the total number of signatures attached being in the neighbourhood of 30,000. A word of comment came from Mr. Isitt (Christchurch North), who had been entrusted with a petition bearing 1531 signatures. He said that the petition purported to come from over 1500 of his own constituents. He had glanced through it and had found that it contained hundreds of names living ns far away as Dunedin and Eket'ahuna. Whole pages contained no name which he could identify as belonging to one of his constituents. Mr. Witty (RiccartoiQ, who does not share Mr. Isitt’s views on the betting question, asked if the Prime Minister would agree to tho appointment of a special committee to deal with the request for the licensing of the bookmakers. He said that the total number of signatures was about 80,000. Mr. Massey replied that the suggestion would receive consideration. He would have to consult his colleagues in the Cabinet before coming to a decision.