PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 19 July 1920, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

WORK FOR THIS WEEK

(By Telegraph—Special to Star.)

WELLINGTON, July 19. The Gaming Act Amenuinent Bill introduced by the Hon. Mr Anderson, Minister of Internal .Affairs, deals only with measures to complete the obliteration of the bookmaker, but an important section of members regard the Bill with still greater interest because it offers them opportunity, under standing orders, of moving an amendment dealing with racing permits. The recent Racing Conference, I understand, decided to go in for an increase in totalisator permits to the extent of fifty in addition to the 281 already issued. Those who favor the proposal can move an amendment to Mr Anderson's Bill, but the Government, I .hear, is quite unsympathetic, and it will leave such an amendment to its fate. Whether it is favorable or otherwise nothing but the division lists, will tell. The indications are that, while racing commands the support of an important section of the 'House, there is still a larger body of legislative opinion in favor of redistributing the present permits rather than of permitting an increase in racing, which they contend is not going to assist the Dominion in recovering the industrial leeway. Due to Ministers having been more concerned with deputations than their Parliamentary business during the past fortnight, Government measures are making their appearance slowly, and only four remain on the order paper, the most important^ being the Arms Bill and the Civil" List, providing increases for legislators. These measures will come under discussion during the week, when the Government's final word regarding salaries should be made known. It is taken for granted that £500 a year, less income tax and superannuation, will be adopted. It is also intended, if time permits, to thresh oni during the coming week one of tne most contentious questions likely to arise during the session—that of the future labor policy for Samoa. As a preliminary to this discussion the Government intends circulating at an early date a report of discussions between the Parliamentary party and Island gatherings; also a very' comprehensive report on trade development .between New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, prepared by a special commission.