GAMING AND LOTTERIES BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 33

GAMING AND LOTTERIES BILL.

AMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE. (From Ott* Own Cobrxbpondixt.)

WELINGTON, November 15.

The Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill has been considered by the special committee appointed to deal with it and reported to the House.

Members interested in racing were absent from the committee when the bill was being dealt with, and it is likely that in consequence of its being considered when they could not attend, it will be blocked in the House, with the result that there will be little chance of its passing this session. It is freely reported amongst members that one member of the Ministry says it is going through, while another Cabinet Minister says the bill has not got a ghost of a chance this session.

Several amendments <hay« been made by the committee- in the bill.

Subsection 5 of section 26, regarding street betting, which provides that a constable may arrest at any time without warrant, hae been struck out.

In section ' 29, which makes it illegal for an officer of a racing olub to accept telegraphic instructions as to investments on the totalisator, the word "telephonio" has been added.

Section 31, prohibiting the publication of advertisement or notification regarding betting on a horse race or as to investment© on the totalisator, has been added so as to prevent the publication of "any information, advice, or suggestion as to the probable result of any such race."

A new clause has been added rendering liable to a penalty of £20 any person who prints, publishes, or sells any newspaper or other printed document that contains any statement as to the dividend paid on investments on- the totalieator in respect of any horse race, whether run in New Zealand or elsewhere.

Section 32 has been altered so as to permit of a second place totalisator dividend.

The " five minutes before starting" provision in regard to totalisator investments has been struck out.

A new clause has been inserted preventing licensed bookmakers from betting after the time notified for the starting of a race. The penalty provided for a breaoh of the section is a fine not exceeding £100. When the bill as amended was reported from the" special committee with amendments yesterday, Mr Herries said he had a grievance, inasmuch as the bill had been put through while he and Messrs Poland and Davey, who took a special interest in it were absent on important business. They had been led to understand only evidence would be taken. H© thought that they might have' been conferred with before the contentious clauses were put through.