Additional Tote Licenses

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 235, 11 September 1924, Page 3

Additional Tote Licenses

GAMING AMENDMENT. PROVISIONS IN BILL. (Special to “Tribune.”) Wellington, Sept. 11. The Gaming Amendment Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday, is a short measure ol seven clauses. The bill provides that in addition to the number of licenses to use the totalisator that may be granted to racing clubs under the Act of 1908, or the amendment of 1914, the Minister of Internal Affairs may grant not more than twelve licenses to racing clubs to use the totalisator on one day, and not more than nineteen licenses to trotting clubs for use on one day. On changing its constitution tqi become either a trotting or a hunt club, a racing club may retain ths right to receive a permit to use the totalisator, but shall not receive a greater number of licenses than that to which it might be entitled wider its new constitution. There is a similar provision in case of change of constitution by a trotting or hunt club. Clause 4 authorises the refund of any moneys invested on a totalisator in respect of any horse which is for any reason withdrawn from any race before the totalisator is closed, and clause 5 limits the number of races to be run to eight per day, whether tne totalisator is used or not, A breach of this section is punishable by a fine not exceeding £5O in the case of every officer of the club if he is a consenting party.

It is further provided that, on the dissolution of any club, the assets remaining after all legal claims on the club have been satisfied, shall be disposed of for public or charitable purposes in such a manner as the club may, with the approval of the Minister of Internal Affairs, have determined prior to its dissolution, or, in default of such determination, in , a manner appointed by the Governor-General-in-Uoimcil.

There may, from time to time, bo appointed as officers of the public ser_ vice, one or more inspectors of totalisators, and every such inspector shall at all times during a race meeting at which the totalisator is used, have the right of entry without charge to the racecourse at which the meeting is being held. Any person who hinders, or attempts to hinder an inspector of the totalisator entering any racecourse or building containing a totalisator in execution of his duty, or who refuses to give any information which the inspector may demand shall be liable on a summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £5O. The Governor-General may, from time to time, by Order-in-Council make regulations prescribing the powers and duties of inspectors.