“DISAPPOINTED”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 4054, 13 October 1948, Page 5

“DISAPPOINTED”

GAMING POLL BILL SOCIALISING RACING * MR SUTHERLAND IN THE HOUSB • Speaking on the second reading of the Gaming Poll Bill in the House of Representatives recently, Mr A. S. Sutherland, National M.P. for Hauraki, said he was very disappointed with the Bill. Apart from providing , for a referendum on off course betting* there was nothing in it. “ I maintain that when the Royal Commission on Gaming and Racing brought down its final report, Parliament should do the rest,” he stated. “ The elected representatives of the people should have the final say. It is the duty of Parliament to give a lead. The people were not asked to* vote on some issues that were more important than the off course hatting —such as the abolition of the country .quota and the taking over of the Bank of New Zealand.” The Government were weak-kneed over this question, he said. If a referendum was to be taken, there should have been an opportunity for the public to vote on the double totalisator, an inctease in permits and the question of setting up an advisory board. “ I am strongly against the setting up of -an advisory board by the Government,” he went on. “ The racing and trotting conferences Havo handled both branches of the sport in an exemplary manner. The proposed advisory board is just a move to _ socialise the sport of racing. .

“ Several Governnient members haste severely criticised the executive of the racing clubs. That was uncalled for, as both the racing and trotting have . been managed on a high plane. It showed that the criticism came from . men with no knowledge of the sport. I maintain that both branches <xf . racing did a good job during the war' and gave every assistance to the winning of the war. Many of our sports made the supreme sacrifice. The legalising of the double totalisator i* over-due and would be welcome I feel, by all sports; it would also be a blow • to the bookmakers. Off-course betting is going to be decided by a referen- M dum, so it is not necessary to discuss 4 that question at length. J;

Permit For Maramaraa Hunt J “ I would like hunt dubs to get' foots jg consideration from the Government by way of some extra totalisator permits for the six clubs that have not that privilege at present. . The Maramastea Hunt, which hunts from- the West j Coast close to Raglan right throufh / the Lower Waikato, to Paeroa and Wt • East Coast near Waihi, is entitled to a j permit. Then the non-totalisator meetings, and these are many in the' ' ? Auckland Province, would like to havul . the privilege of using the eqvalisator, on a legal basis. The rural people are really entitled to have a small investment at their non-tote and picnic race • meetings. .

“ There are many other questions that the commission : J that I hope the House will have an .J opportunity of discussing whep thf * Bill promised by the Minister comes % before the House next session. Several extra permits were recommended , i by the commission, for trotting clubs in the Waikato. AU these questions | will want earnest consideration when the Bill comes before the House next. .1 session. ’ “ Finally, I would say that all these - J recommendations by the Gaming Commission should have been fully discussed by Parliament, and that waa * the body that'should have adopted in full or part the commission’s report,” concluded Mr Sutherland.