THE NEW GAMING BILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9332, 5 October 1910, Page 4

THE NEW GAMING BILL.

The Dominion has published an outline of the new Gaming Bill which, if the information supplied to our contemporary is correct, contains some drastic provisions regarding racing. As expected, the bookmaker is cond'emried outright. It is jspecifically provided that the business of bookmaking is an unlawful calling; and every person who pursues this calling is liable to a fine of £100 or imprisonment for three months. Moreover, every person who bets with a bookmaker is liable to a fin© not exceeding £50, unless he can prove that he did not know when making the wager, that he was betting with a bookmaker. Racing clubs are given powers'to prevent bookmakers plying their calling on racecourses. The intentions of the Government regarding the totalisator will probably prove of most general interest. At the present time racing clubs are granted 128 totalisator permits each year. After July next, if the Bill passes, the number will be reduced to 100, with a limit of 190 racing days. Trotting clubs will have the number of permits issued to them reduced from 28 to 22, with a limit of fifty days' racing. At present the racing clubs have 128 permits and 242 days' racing, and if the new proposals are enforced it will mean a reduction of 28 permits and 52 days' racing. Trotting clubs have 28 permits and 63 days' racing, and it is proposed to decrease the former by 6 and the latter by 13. Every totalisator permit issued will be issued in respect of a single race meeting, and will specify the day or days on which the totalisator may be used. Instead of the racing and trotting conferences apportioning the permits, subject to the Minister's approval, a special commission, consisting of live persons, to be appointed by the Government, is to be set up to receive applications and allocate the permits. The Minister, however, will still retain his power of veto. are several other minor provisions. One / is to compel all who bet through the totalisator to do so with gold or bank notes. This is to prevent any betting on credit by arrangement with a club, which is said to be done on occasions when the club is satisfied with the financial stability of the person granted this privilege. The law is also to be made more stringent in regard to the publication of any indication whatever of the degree of favouritism of horses on the totalisator. The proposed reduction 111 the number of permits will be keenly debated in the House. The number of racing days could be curtailed with advantage to the community, but whether it is advisable to cut down the racing permits in view of engagements made ahead by many clubs, is open to discussion. The reduction of the permits is a drastic proposal, and may be the means of killing the,Bill.