LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 852, 29 June 1888, Page 14

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27. Thb Council met at 2.30 p.hi. PETITIONS.

Mr Holmes presented petitions from residents of West Taieri in favor of Biblereading in State schools and against the Contagious Diseases Act. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Captain Baillie obtained leave of absence for a week. - ■

MOTION. Mr Hart moved, That, in the opinion of this Council, in the present financial position of this Colony, it is the duty of the State to bring in aid of the revenue a substantial tax upon the profits derived from the use of the totalisator at race meetings. The said this Was the first time, so far as be kiiew, that a member Of the Council httdi suggested that gambling ShtJttid be legalised fot the fiurpOsd Of revenue. They might just as Well legalise attd obtain revenue from gambling hoUses And State lotteries. While he believed that the had been abused and had created many small raoe meetings, yet he believed that it had been instrumental in suppressing tho bookinS’korß. H 0 trusted the Council would pause ere they sought to obtain revenue from gambling. Sir G. Whitmore said he would supporthe motion if it were altered so that the local charities instead of the State might be benefited by the totalisator.--Dr Pollen regarded-’the totalisator as a legalised machine for cheating purposes, and therefore he would support the motion. It was idle to say that horse-racing promoted the improvement of the breed: of horses. The public were duped by the owners of the machines just the same as people were often 1 cheated by professed gamblers by means of loaded dice. His fervent hope was that the totalisator would soon be very heavily taxed. Mr Miller moved as an amendment a select committee be appointed to inquire into the beat working of the totalisator. Mr W aterhouse intimated his intention of supporting the amendment. Mr Wilson remarked that, as,he ever had done, he shouldSstill continue to oppose the totalisator, but he thought no possible good, would result from the appointment of a select committee, and therefore he should oppose the amendment. At the same time he did nob view with favor the idea that the State should receive revenue from gambling transactions. • , . MtLahmann thought that if the various Jockey Clubs throughout the Colony were deprived of their 10 per cent, on the profits of the totalisator, the evils complained of would very speedily be abated. Colonel Brett defended the totalisator, which had had the effeot of, in a great measure, ridding racecourses of the presence of the bookmakers. ‘ The motion went to a division, and was lost : -Ayes, 7 ; noes, 16. The amendment was carried on a division : —Ayes, 12 ; noes, 10. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. This Bill, which was sent down from the House of Representatives, was read a first time, the second reading being fixed for the next day. CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT DRAINAGE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Shephard resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for the second reading of this Bill, to whioh Mr Waterhouse had moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. After debate, the Council divided on the motion : — 1: yes, 11 ; noes, 12, The second reading was lost. THE TRAMWAYS ACT AMENDMENT BILL.. This Bill was read a first time, the motion for the second reading being made an order for Friday next. The Council, at 5 o’clock, adjourned to the following day.