Off-Course Betting Bill Before House

Northern Advocate, 12 October 1949, Page 3

Off-Course Betting Bill Before House

WELLINGTON, Wed. (Sp.).—The Gaming Amendment Bill, providing for an off-course betting scheme involving totalisator agencies, was introduced in the House of Representatives last night, and was read a first time. The Racing and Trotting Conferences are to submit a full or an interim scheme for the approval of Ihe Government by a date to be fixed by the Minister of Internal Affairs. The scheme must provide for a Totalisator Agency Board, and must state the location of totalisator agencies, their hours, of operation and the method of transmitting bets and paying dividends. The bill is to take effect from December 15.

Other points in the bill are: An additional 19 days of trotting each year, but no increase for racing or hunt clubs. The operation of a doubles totalisator. Publication of dividends and the legalising of newspaper tipping. An extension of totalisator inspection to off-course betting. The elimination of the present limit of £5 for sweepstakes at picnic race meetings.

Scheme

The scheme to be submitted by the two conferences will define the functions and powers of the Totalisator Agency Board, to set out the number of members to be appointed, their terms of office and the method of appointing a chairman. The way in which the bets are to be received and the times and conditions under which they will be dealt with are left to be stated in the scheme, as is the method of transmitting bets and paying dividends. The scheme is also to deal with the provision of the necessary funds to establish totalisator agencies and the method of accounting between racing clubs and agencies. The scheme may provide for the establishment of agencies in different places to be open at times to be decided by the board. The Minister may approve an interim scheme to enable the board to exercise without delay any of its functions. The Totalisator Agency Board will be a corporate body, with power to purchase and lease property. It can appoint agents and other staff, but is prohibited, at the risk of a maximum fine of £IOO, from paying them commisssions determined by the amount of investments they handle.

Finance

To enable the board to function, the Minister of Finance may advance, on his own terms and without further authority, any money required to acquire property and meet preliminary expenses before the board has sufficient revenue of its own.

The Minister may require any security he thinks fit. With the approval of the Governor General, the board can make regulations similar to those now enjoyed by racing clubs to control the admission of persons to any totalisator agency. Totalisator agencies may exhibit their name on any premises they occupy, and may publish in newspapers the hours of business, telephone number, etc. Similar notices may appear inside the agency. However, nothing can be exhibited or published which is intended to induce any person to make a totalisator investment. The present power of inspectors to examine totalisators on racecourses is extended to cover the proposed totalisator agencies. The bill authorises the establishment of doubles totalisators. Two may be operated on each racecourse in addition to the three totalisators already permitted.

Dividends

The number of one-day totalisator licences for trotting clubs is increased from 19 to 33. Newspapers may publish dividends and "tips,” or, as the bill puts it, "any information or advice as to the probable result of a race,” except by advertisements. Broadcasting stations also are to be permitted to announce dividends and to “tip.” The procedure for obtaining a search warrant for premises suspected to be common gaming houses is altered slightly. Under the existing law. justices may issue warrants on,complaint made before them on oath that there is reason to suspect that premises are being used as common gaming houses. The bill proposes that warrants may be issued if a justice is satisfied by a statement on oath. The limit of £5 at non-totalisalor