A DEADLOCK GAMING AMENDMENT BILL EXTRA DAYS' RACING AGREED TO

Evening Post, Volume xc, Issue 79, 1 October 1915, Page 3

A DEADLOCK GAMING AMENDMENT BILL EXTRA DAYS' RACING AGREED TO

IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. An animated discussion on the Gaming Act Amendment Bill took place in the Legislative Council last night, after the Leader (the Hon. Sir Francis Bell) had moved the second reading of the Bill. Sir Francis said that it appeared to be an absolute necessity to legalise the raffles and lotteries being carried on in connection with the patriotic funds, although, personally, he detested the carnivals and raffles that were being hejd. He had no sympathy whatever with such means of raising money for the soldiers. The Hons. G. Carson, T. Mac Gibbon, and A. T. Maginnity opposed the Bill. ALLOWED TO GROW. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken expressed regret that the system of raffles and art unions had been allowed to grow. To say anything against these methods would be unpatriotic, but he was convinced that had they gone about the matter decently they would have raised the necessary money The Hon. R. Moore said that although he did not favour gambling, he would like to see all the money possible raised, and would vote for the Bill. The Hon. G. Jones thought that all the money necessary in connection with the war should have been raised by the Government. Instead of begging they would then have had taxation to meet all requirements. Sir Francis Bell interjected that the Government paid for everything, but it asked for nothing. Hon. Mr. Jones: The Governor aaked for assistance for the hospital ships. Sir Francis Bell : That is not the Government. The Hon. Mr. Jones : It was at the inI stigation of the Governor. .Sir Francis Bell (warmly) : Nonsense ! The Speaker intimated that the Hon. Mr. Jones must not mention the Governor at all. The Hon. Mr. Jones added that it was the fact that the Government had not done its duty, that had made the measure necessary. WHAT THE WAIRARAPA HAS DONE. The Hon. Sir Walter Buchanan said that the people in the Wairarapa realised that the Government would be very heavily called upon, and that a good deal of money would be required for the exceptional circumstances arising out of the war. He quoted the case of a man and his son who had gone to the war, and left the mother and twelve girls to make their way in the world. It was to meet such cases as this that a fund was required, and it was the incentive that led the people of the Wairarapa to contribute to the fund. The law had been broken, and the Bill was, to meet a very serious difficulty, and to prevent the wholesale breaking of the law. The Hon. C. H. Mills did not altogether believe in gambling, but thought in the special circumstances the measure was justified. The Hon. W. Earnshaw said he did not go on the "tote," nor did he have a nutter on "Tatt's," but he would support the Bill, as he believed the majority of the people in these raffles did not look for prizes. Other Councillor* had expressed their views, including the Hon. J Barr, who warmly denounced the raising of money by raffles, instead of the Government adopting the more dignified method of providing the money. A PASSAGE-AT-ARMS. The Leader (Sir Francis Bell), in reply, said that the Minister had not invited the public to -subscribe, although they were pleased to receive subscriptions. "We have said, each of us," continued Sir Francis, "that the country is going to bear the burden, and alone must bear the burden, but we have welcomed these local and general funds because every provision made by statute must be made upon some definite and accurate basis." There were individual distinctions which could only be provided for by private benevolence. The Pensions Act was an instance, and it could not distinguish between people who had families and those who had not, nor could make provision for additional comforts, and it was for these reasons that the public had taken upon themselves to provide. What did it all amount to as against the burden of the country? The State had spent millions, and was spending millions, as against thousands. A Member : Hundreds of thousands. The Leader, referring to the Hospital Ship, said that the vessel was offered by the Government of New Zealand to the Imperial Government at the expense of the taxpayers. It was then suggested that the public of New Zealand would like to have an opportunity of contributing themselves rather than from the public purse, and, by their subscriptions, providing for the equipment of the ship. The idea was welcomed throughout the country, except by those who did not wish to subscribe The Hon Mr. Barr (in a lond voice) : That's a shameful statement to make. The Leader said he did not mean to be offensive. The Hon. Mr. Barr : It is offensive to the whole of the country, and we are part of the country. The Leader again remarked that he had no wish to be offensive, and added that, as the people desired these raffles, the Bill was to provide that they were held for the benefit of the war funds, and not for personal benefit. Upon a, division, the 6econd reading was carried, the voting being : — Ayes (16)— Bell, George, Beehan, Earnshaw, Carncross, Moore, Buchanan, Hardy, Morgan, Ormond, Harris, Thompson, Wigram, Mills, Bowen, and Samuel. Noes (11)— Aitken, Paul, Barr, MacGibbon, Jones, Macgregor, Fisher, HallJones, Carson, Maoginnity, and Simpeon. A CLAUSE OBJECTED TO. In Committee there was further discussion, and the Hon. Mr. Barr moved that clause 2 (permitting raffles in aid of war funds) be struck out. A division resulted in the clause being retained hj 14 votes to 10. The Hon. Mr. Paul moved a new clause: "That this Act shall be deemed to be repealed immediately on the declaration of peace or the termination of the present war with Germany." i The Leader said he was prepared to accept the clause. He then explained that the Wellington Racing' Club was prevented from holding its last meeting because the stands were being used for hospital purposes, and it was proposed to give the club an extra day this year for the day lost. He moved that the number of days of racing be increased from 250 to 251. He then explained that a race meeting under the Gaming Act must not extend for a longer period than eight consecutive days, and he moved an amendment that Sunday should not be counted, but that Monday should be taken oonsecutive to Saturday The Hons. Messrs. Paul and Barr objected strongly to the proposed extra day's racing, i The Leader stated, jya reoJi Jo j, gnet- i

tion, that it was not intended to confine the extra diy's racing to ne-st year only. The club appeared to have a grievance in that it did not get one of the days it wa6 entitled to. The Hon. Mr. Paul: "Then the war has nothing to do with it I" He objected strongly to such a clause being added tea Bill legalising lotteries for war purposes. Both he and the Hon. Mr. Paul continued to object to the clause until 12.40 a.m., when the Leader moved to report progress, and the Council then adjourned.