GAMING ACT

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 July 1926, Page 8

GAMING ACT

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. (Special to “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 28. A number of amendments of the Gaming Act, so far as it relates to sport and racing, ' are proposed by Sir Edwin Mitclielson, in a Bill which he has introduced in the Legislative Council. The measure proposes to repeal that clause which makes it illegal for an officer of a racing club to accept telegraphic instructions as to investments on the totalisator. it also seeks to exempt the secretary of a club from the clause which forbids the delivery of betting telegrams at a racecourse. The principal alteration in the present law which tbe Bill contemplates is tlpt which seeks to wipe out the restrictions upon the publication of dividends, tipping of results, investments on the totalisator, or statem'ents from which the amount ' of dividends or starting prices may be calculated. The repeal of the section forbidding the use of double totalisators is also desired. In regard to the removal of persons from a racecourse for breach of regulations under the Act, the Bill proposes an addition that any person so removed shall not re-enter the course on the same day, and that it he does so, he shall be liable to' arrest by any constable without warrant, and be taken before a Magistrate or two Justices, and be liable to a fine of £5O or one month’s imprisonment. Totalisator licenses are to be granted to racing clubs only in respect of a meeting held on their own courses, but in cases where the course is temporarily unfit or unsafe .or racing, by reason of improvement or reconstruction works or other sufficient reason, the Minister of Internal Affairs may 'grant a license for the club to use a totalisator on such other racecourse as he thinks fit A £lOO penalty is pro-' vided for the use of a totalisator on any course other than the one named in the license. The final clause in the Bill repeals the provision in the Amending Act of 1924, that if a racing club changes its constitution, so as’ to become a trotting or hunt club, it may retain the right to receive tbe permit as a racing club.