THE GAMING BILL.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12916, 13 October 1914, Page 5

THE GAMING BILL.

MB BUICK'S SPEECH. Following is the full text of Mr D„ Buick'e speech on the' Gaming Act Amendment Bill, as reported in Hansard:— Mr Buiek (Palmerston): It was not my intention to speak, and I would not have done so had it not been for a few words that fell from the leader of the Opposition. When he says that the trotting horse is a more useful animal than the hunter I am afraid the honourable gentleman does not know what he is talking about. An Hon. Member: Why?

Mr Buick: Because the hunter goes along as fast as lie can, but the trotter has several paces, and you never know whether he is doing his best. Now that the motor car is taking his place the trotter is only useful to set the pace. What we want is a good remount, and the hunter is the most useful horse we have. He is a remount horse, one that will carry a man for a long day's journey; but the trotter is only fit to go at a certain pace on a good, road, and he cannot carry a man over rough country. Then, the leader of the Opposition said that Southland's interests are not sufficiently cared for in the schedule to the Bill. Who is to blame for that! The members the Southland people send here —members who have not the energy to take a hand in the drafting of this Bill, which is too small for them. They said they were against it, and that they did not want any more racing,'because it was gambling. Now, they are supporting the biggest gamble that could ever take place on a racecourse —the trotting gamble. | repeat that the trotter does not go as fast as he can, but only at the pace of a trot, whereas the galloper goes as fast as he can —the galloper 13 doing his best all the time, but I have never known of a trotter doing his best. Trotting is the biggest swindle that can take place on a racecourse, and I have had a good deal to do with racing. The leader of the Opposition is quite willing to add another two or three things to the schedule, to suit his people; and I have no objection to his doing so, but he must leave the hunts alone. I am one of those men who like to see people enjoy themselves in the way they like best, and I do not believe in being told, "You cannot have a trot here and a race there.'' If people can keep a trotting club going, let them have the chance to do it. If they want to be swindled, lot them. Ido not object co it. However, there are people who tell us that they do not believe in any gambling; bn£ I ask if any member can point to anything in this world chat gambling is not connected with. We cannot face the next election even without gambling. It is never a certainty until the numbers go up; and it is the same with racing. An Hon. Member: Do not kill the Bill. Mr Buick: It is the Southland members who want to kill the Bill. If yon want two or three more meetings im Southland for trotting I have no objection, and I will support your proposal, because everybody should be allowed to enjoy himself as he likes* But again I say the hunter is the most useful. •