PARLIAMENT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 240, 24 September 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE-COUNCIL. [per press association.) Wellington. Sept. 23. Mr. Bell gave nonce to introduce bills dealing with animal protection and tiie registration and control of medical practitioners. The Customs Amendment Bill was read the, second time. The Dunedin City Council Empowering Bill was taken in Committee, reported -without amendment, read the third time and passed. The Tuakitoto and Kaitangaia Lakes Amendment Bid also passed through Committee without amendment, read the third time and passed. The War Risks Insurance Bill was received from the House and the standing orders were suspended to enable the bill to be put through all the stages. The bill was put through Committee without amendment, ' read the third time and passed. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. In reply to Mr. .Craigie, Mr. Herries said the report ot the Foodstuffs Commission on the price of wheat and flour had not yet been considered by the Cabinet. Mr. Herries stated that it was not possible to arrange tor an extensive system of railway excursions in connection with the farewell to the troops. It had only been possible to provide for trains from Palmerston to Masterton. The Cook Islands Bill was introduced by Governor's Message and read the first time. In reply to Sir Joseph ’Ward, Mr. Allen said it -was intended to adjourn at, the end of the present sitting until Tuesday. Asked for a reason why the House was not to sit on Friday, Mr. Allen replied that it would perhaps be better if the answer was not pressed for. GAMING ACT AMENDMENT. Mr. Hunter (Waipawa) moved the second reading of the Gaming Act Amendment Bill, -explaining that the measure was intended to increase the number of totalisator permits in country’ districts. He urged that increased race meetings would tend to improve the breed of horses in the Dominion. He also pleaded that as racing clubs had contributed so liberally to the patriotic fund it would be a graceful act to place this reasonable measure on the statute book.

Sir Joseph Ward said he would support the second reading of the bill, but did not approve, of the allocations made in the schedule. He wanted to'see more encouiagement given to trotting clubs. Mr. Buick condemned trotting meetings. They were the biggest gamble on earth. The horse he encouraged was the hunter. Mr. Malcolm condemned the bill as one ca ciliated to encourage gambling, not sport. Air. Pearce contended that the whole question underlying the bill was the breeding of horses. Air. Ruddo supported the bill. He favoured the encouragement of hunt chibs.

Alt-. Isitt vigorously denounced the bill, and claimed that a percentage of totalisator receipts expended on good hunting sires would do more to improve the breed of ho.rses than an increase of permits. Air. Anderson opposed the bill be cause he was of opinion (hat an adjustment of metropolitan fixtures would have met the case. Air. Ell was opposed to the bill. He held that there was too much racing in the metropolitan centres. Air. Atmore supported the redistribution of totalisator permits in the, interests of country clubs. The debate then closed, and a division was called, the second reading being carried by 38 to 10. By the indulgence of the House the member for Waipawa was permitted to take the Committee stase of the bill forthwith.

Air. 1’ orbes moved to reduce the number of pennits for racing clubs from 17 to 15 in order to increase the permits to trotting clubs. Air. Hunter said he was prepared to accept the amendment as a compromise. Air. Ell pointed out that a large number of members were absent from thi' House who had paired on the bill as it stood, and it would be unfair ol the member in charge of the bill to accept material alterations. Sir Joseph Ward protested against any suggestion that the bill should not be altered. Air. Wilfoid advocated an all round increase of permits as the wayout of the difficulty. Air. Forbes contended that, North Island members did not realise how popular a sport trotting was becoming in the South Island. On a proper percentage the trotting- clubs were certainly entitled to nine permits. The allocation was entirely a North Island allocation. Air. Reed contended that the allocation had been agreed to at a conference, and the House should abide by the decision of the conference. The disicussion centred round the claims of the three branches of sport until 11.15. when on the suggestion of Air. ]• isher, Mr. Forbes withdrew his amendment to enable him to move a prior amendment increasing the thirty permits provided in the bill to thirty-one. with a view to givign hunt and trotting clubs eight permits each.

This compromise was objected to by Mr. Davey and Mr. Isitt. who said it was a breach of faith with th ose members who had all alqng under stood that the crux of the bill was to be thirty permits.

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The Minister’s amendment was carried on the voices. Mr. Forbes then moved to reduce seventeen racing club permits to fifteen. On a division the voting was: For the amendment 45, against 9. Fifteen was then inserted in the bill as permits for racing chibs. The bill was then further amended, fixing hunt club anil trotting club permits at eight each, and in this form it was reported, read the third time, and passed. THE FACTORIES ACT. The Factories Act Amendment Bill .was put through Committee without amendment-, read the third time atid passed. HCNTLY DISASTER. Before the House rose the. Hon. J. Allen announced that the men who had been in camp at Palmerston had sent him a sum of £lO7 16/6 towards the assistance of those who had suffered by the Huntly disaster. Sir Joseph Ward felicitated the men upon the generous impulses which had induced them to make this handsome donation. The House rose at 11.59 till Tuesday.