MINISTERS AND THE GAMING ACT.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 280, 4 December 1907, Page 5

MINISTERS AND THE GAMING ACT.

DR. FINDLAY AND THE HON. G. FOWLDS.

Two Ministers have expressed opinions on the Gaming Act, the Attorney-General at Wellington, ana the Minister for Education at Auckdeputation of bookmakers, of which Messrs Scott and Barnett were spokesmen, complained to the Attorney-General against the Feilding Racing 01 ? b > asked that the law should be carried out in the spirit intended by the Legislature. The deputation asked that a mandate should be issued to Racing Clubs compelling them to administer the Act fairly. The bookmakers protested against being cbaTged £20 a day and also against being placed in a roped in enclosure, as proposed at Felldmg, but said they did not desire to bet on the lawn or stand. They said $liey were personally carrying out the provisions of the Act absolutely, though Mr Barnett admitted that under legal advice they were completing a book begun on the Auckland Cup before the Act was passed. They suggested a fee of 1 per cent on the stakes. This, they said, would mean £20 per diem at Wellington, £15 at Feilding, and from £5 to £10 at smaller meetings. [Average stakes per diem at the following meetings are: Canterbury £2303, Auckland £1728, Manawatu £1480, Feilding £1414, Ashhurst (one day) £1405, Wellington £1303. So that Mr Scott's calculation is Wrong. —Ed. "M.D.T."] Dr. Findlay, in reply, said he wanted to explain that bookmakers had no right to expect and would not set any indulgence from Government. The duty of Government would not permit it to show any favor in any shape pr form to any agency of gambling. They would see that the Act whether for or against the bookmaker was genuinely carried out. The condition of the issue of totalisator licenses would be compliance with clause 35. If a olub refused compliance totalisator licenses would not be granted. He would make full enquiry into the actions and if the clubs at Feilding and Woodville and if any club Was making section 35 a dead letter » he would rescind its totalisator permit. Clubs had no right to impose exatious conditions but reasonable conditions to prevent bookmakers becoming a nuisance, and were entitled tb fees up to £20 per. diem. Bookmakers had been given a legal status aud they were to be put on the course in no wors3 and no better position than the totalisator. The Act would be administered in a spirit of fairness and Government would also endeavour to secure absolute observance of its provisions. Speaking to a reporter, the Hon. Geo. Fowlds said:—"The Act msrks a tremendous advance on any previous legislation. A great deal has been made of the compulsory licensing of bookmakers by the Racing Club, but the fact of the matter is that it is very improbable that the measure could have been passed at all this year unless some concession bad been made to those who objected to the clubs having a monopoly of the betting by means of the tote. If betting is to be prohibited outside of a course and permitted on the course, it is quite as rational to permit it to be done there by bookmakers as by means of the ' tote. The restriction of betting to the racecourses should go a long way to wards minimising the betting evil. I think the anti-gambling people recognise that the Government has ffone quite as far as the House and the country will permit it to go at jpresent."