THE GAMING BILL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1147, 22 October 1924, Page 5

THE GAMING BILL

SPECIAL COMMITTEE’S REPORT. LENGTHY DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 22. Sii* George Hunter, in the House of Representatives yesterday. afternoon, brought- down the report of the special committee on the Gaming Bill. The report was to the effect that the committee, had carefully considered tlie bill and recommended that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. Mr Langstone said that as a member of the committee he had come to the conclusion that flic bill should be held over until next session. The evidence given before* the committee tended to show that there was no credit betting, but this was l ot a fact, for cases were brought before 1 *•' law courts which proved to the contTi There was also a duty devolving on -ery member of the House to see that j s(ice was done the boys employed ny the horse owners, and the whole of the rules 0 f racing should be closely revised befo. any further permits were issued to ratv : g ‘dubs. NO Or EDIT BETTING. Air Glenn said Lai there was no -mb thing as credit betti.-g, Liu a person could deposit approved clieq r.., tt jth racing clubs to* avoid having to ea. v a lot uf money ahom with him: that \\. tin* only form of credit betting and then. w;h wry little of it- in New Zealand. - HLeu'.dng the position of apprentices, foi whom the Labour Party showed so much eom-» w. he said that they did not have to -weal to reduce weight; they received 10s weekly and board. Jockeys were not bred, they were born. The first 15 jockeys in New Zealand to-day had first been apprcnt.ees, and they were a credit to tlieir profusion. He contended that the bill was not designed to increase permits in the cities, but was purely for the benefit of the countrv clubs. Air A.icf ’ombs said that this bill was a pure waste of time. This was a Government bill for which the Government must take iln* responsibility for any waste of time which might occur. The lion. A. I). McLeod: “It i- occurring now.” Air Massey: “Hear, hear.’’ Continuing. Air AlcGombs quoted the criticism of judges on the totali-aior as tending to encourage betting and also the case' of a man who took advantage ot credit betting on the totalisatcr without, having sufficient means. The Hon. A. D. McLeod: “That is the fault of the secretary of the club.” MAN Y A MEND AJ ENTS. Air McCombs added that he had 74 amendment's to move to the hii 1 and there was another list of 117, making in all about 200 which would occupy some 33 hours in divisions alone. Air Rolieston (Timaru) severely criticised the report of the Racing (’em mission in certain re-p Pets. The time bad arrived when there should be a drastic redistribution of the exiting permits. Mr Wright, who opposed the bill, said that the principle on which the racing people worked ua~ evidently to got a lit tie at a time, and it this bill wa- pu--ed anofhor would he introduced next session asking for a still further instalment of permit s. Air Masscv: “Pas* this bill and I will guarantee that no similar one will he brought down next session.” Mr Wright said he would accept the Premier's assurance, but he would not support this hill because there was more racing in New Zealand than there was in Great Britain on a population basis. Messrs Edie, O’Brien and Buddo opposed the extension of racing permits under the existing conditions. Air Isitt said that the business men’s petition against an increase in the volume of gambling in New Zealand was a wonderful tiling. He hoped that members would examine the signature* and see the class of mail who bad signed it. Air Isitt was still speaking when the House adjourned at 5.30 anti the report was talked out. SURPRISE FOR MEMBERS. When the House resumed at: 7.30 the Premier sprung a surprise on members by making the suspension of the standing orders to permit of the continuation of the afternoon’s discussion on the Gaining Bilk Mr I-ili questioned the right oi the in adr mi- such a course, but the Speaker ruled that his motion was in order. ..j, Lift said the bill, as every member was well aware, had no chance of passing. Mr Rhodes (Thames}: “Nonsense.” Air Lit! : “Ilow are you going to get through a hundred amendments?” Air Harris said the bill had not a thousand to one chance of passing, so why \va<ie time on ii 7 Air Massey: “Why waste time now :” Mr Harris said lie was opposed to only one clause in the bill. Air Massey: ■‘Which one-'” Air Harris: “The clause increasing the permits.’’ ( Laughter.) Air Holland predicted that this bill would have the -ame fate as its predecessor. which after tin all-night, debate w'as withdrawn by the Premier. There was not the slightest chance of the House reaching finality on lhe matter. PRIME MINISTER EXPLAINS.

The debuie was continued at considerable length, and Mr Massey said lie desired to make a personal explanation. He wi-hed to put the position clearly before the House. This bill dated buck lo the session before hist. Last .session il Was dropped because it was strongly opposed and he was on the eve of leaving for Knglund, hut. it was dropped on lhe distinct understanding that it would be reintroduced ibis session.

Mr Armstrong: "In an amended form.” Air Massey: "The hon. gentleman actus amending.” Mr Massey was proceeding to state that there was a clear undertaking as to what the position was, when Mr Langstonc interrupted with lhe question: "Why was not it, made tv Government measure:” Mr Mas.-ey: "Beeuuso never in lhe history of Gaming Bills have they been made Government measures. Such a hill must gel support from all sides of the House before it cup pass.” Proceeding, he reminded the House that, owing lo lhe pressure of other business it had not been possible to bring it down earlier. He described its passage through the House up to the stage when the Minister in charge of it good-naturedly consented to it going io a committee. It was soul to that committee on the distinct understanding that members would help the bill through'. Was this keeping faith with him? The majority of the people wanted tins bill,' and as the population was ever increasing the need for the bill was becoming ever greater as the people wanted to hold meetings in their own districts. Air Potter: “They dun’t hold them in their own districts.” Air Massey said that owing to peculiar circumstances many smaller chilis were getting into financial difficulties and it was to assist them thut their races were held in larger centres. HOW TIME WAS WASTED, Coming back to the afternoon proceedings, he said that everyone knew what was going on—time was lining wasted. 11 is motion was moved to get the House out of tile position into which it, had got, and his suggestion was thut the report should be adopted and the bill laid on ilto table, and then they could proceed with other business. Ho was trying to do tlie straight, clean, honourable tiling, and he asked the House to assist him. After , several other members had spoken, the debate collapsed and at 10.45 p.m. a division was culled for, when the motion was carried by 41 to 29 and the debate on the committee’s report, which was proceeding at 5.50, was continued. Mr Isitt indicated that there would be n large sheaf of amendments to be considered. One of these would bo that any club providing members of Parliament with free tickets, free luncheons and free liquor would be liable to a line of £2O and any member offending would be li*

able to a fine ol £5. HOSTILE MOTION DEFEATED. The debutc was interrupted for u short lime by (he introduction of other business ami it; was later continued until 1.5 u.m., when Mr Lee, after opposing the report, moved (bat. the bill be referred back to the committee for further consideration. Tho amendment was seconded by Mr I‘otter, who declared that the bill was not a ‘‘gaining bill” but a “gambling bill,” and had no chance of passing. The debate was continued by opponents of 1 lie bill until 3.45 a.in., when the attack ceased and the report was laid on the table without a division, it being impossible to take the bid any further at that stage. The House rose a 3.50 a.m. till 2.30 p.nt.