GAMING AMENDMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21541, 13 October 1933, Page 12

GAMING AMENDMENT

ALMOST SURE TO PASS ONLY TELEGRAPHING OF BETS DOUBTFUL [From Oub Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 13. There is little doubt but that at least two of the three proposals contained in Mr Healy’s Gaming Amendment Bill will be passed by Parliament this session. The three amendments provide for the telegraphing of bets to the totalisator, the establishment of a double totalisator, and the publication of dividends. Only in the case of giving permission to telegraph bets is there any doubt. The Government has promised to permit the Bill to be discussed during the session, but has not yet agreed to take it up itself. However, sufficient support has been promised in the House to put the measure through with the exception of the clause permitting bets to be telegraphed. From some quarters there is likely to be strong opposition to this principle, but Mr Healy and other members who are strongly in favour of the Bill believe that, in the end, the whole measure will pass. The attitude of the Racing Conference and the Trotting Conference towards the measure was put before Mr Forbes and Mr Coates and Mr Young last night, when the presidents of the two organisations, Messrs J, S. M'Leod and H. F. Nicoll, asked the Government to assist by granting facilities for the passing of the measure. It is understood "that the Ministers were impressed with the case made out, and that they are now considering the suggestion that the Bill should be taken up as a Government measure.