GAMING ACT.

Grey River Argus, 21 June 1927, Page 6

GAMING ACT.

LAST YEAR’S PROPOSALS. SIMILAR BILL FORESHADOWED. WELLINGTON, June 9. Last session the Hon. Sir Edwin Mitchelson, M.L.C., framed a Gaming Amendment Bill, and. in his unavoidable absence, the second reading in the Legislative Council was moved by the Hon. Vernon 11. Reed. This Bill, which was passed by the Council, but merely introduced and read a first time without discussion in the Lower House, sought to make it lawful to telegraph totalisator investments to the secretaries of racing clubs on the racecourse t<> publish before a race information with regard to it. and, after the race, the dividend paid in respect to the totalisator. and to re-establish the “double” totalisator. The Bill also made it an offence for an undesirable who had been removed from a course to re-enter that course, made it compulsory for clubs to race upon their own courses, except in special circumstances, and repealed a section in the 1924 Act which permitted racing clubs to become trotting clubs, and vice versa. In racing and political circles it is anticipated that a Bill similar to Sir Edwin Mitchelson’s Bill, at any rate in regard to the publication of dividends, the “double tote” and the telegraphing of bets to the course, will come before the Lower House during the coming session, although it may not be sponsored by the Government. It is thought that the private member introducing it will be afforded facilities for allowing the House to express free views as to its merits.