DISCUSSION ON THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

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

DISCUSSION ON THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

STRONG LANGUAGE IN THE HOUSE.

(Fbom Otjs Owh Cobbespondeht.) WELLINGTON, November 18.

Some idea of the discussion that may be expected if any serious attempt is made to put through the Gaming and Lotteries Bill in its present form may be gleaned from the disoussion that took place in the House this afternoon upon the report of the special committee that was' "set up to take evidence' and go through the bill as drafted. i The debate was interrupted at the outeefc by Mr A. L. D. Fraser, who desired to move that the Christchurch Press, the Dominion and other newspapers had committed- a breach of privilege by publishing the reports of the committee before it had been dealt with by the House.

Subsequently ..it was shown 'that the special correspondents in the gallery were within their rights in dealing, with the matter after it had been reported to the House. Discussion then turned upon the point as to whether or not the bill had been unduly hurried through the committee in the unavoidable absence of. those members who were specially interested in it. The Prime Minister denied that he was in any way responsible for the consideration of the bill in the absence of these committeemen. Several members, however, stated that they bad been given to understand that evidence was to be taken only on the last day on which the committee sat, and that consideration of the bill itself would be deferred for another day.

Mr Lawry said tho Prime Minister had for once forgotten his courtesy, for he (Mr Lawry) had, through the chairman, asked him to wait for the absent members, and the Risrht Hon. gentleman had aaid : "If your friends are not here it's not my fault." He asked tho Prime Minister if he did not remember sayine that. The Prime Minister: I don't believe I did. v

Mr Lawry: But I believe you did.

The member for Parnell added that the whole thing had been rushed through with the most indecent haste. Referring to the evidence, he said that one of the witnesses was a "Holy Joe." for whose presence Mr Poole. the member for Auckland West, was rcsnonsible. — (Laughter.)

Mr Massey considered that -a great mistake had been made in rushing the bill through. He said it was not fair to endeavour to rush such measures as this bill, the Native Land Bill, the Industrial Arbitration Bill, and the Superannuation Bill through in the dying hours of the session. He agreed that it was necessary to minfrni.e the gambling evil, but in this bill there were clauses that would intensify it and make things ten times ■worse than they were at present. Mr A. L. D. Fraser, who had previously referred to "the treacherous and wicked action" of the magistrate in the recent cases against the Christohurch bookmakers and "the hypocritical screechings of socalled clergymen" in connection with the bill, spoke again with srreat vehemence. As the result of ihe Chrlsfcehurch cases, he said, the totalisator was never before co near trembling upon the brink of abolition aa It was now. If the question came up now he would vote for its abolition to show the detestation and abhorrence of the action of the magistrate in sending these men to prison. He referred to "the insatiable greed of the Jockey Club," and said it would be for the House to limit the number of racing days, and to jealously watch how they manipulated their machines. Some of the stewards of metropolitan clubs had damned and; condemned bookmakers, and yet a week afterwards, on the same metropolitan oourecs, hunt club meetings \mA been held with the same stewards who

clamoured for the bookmakers to come and proceed with their business. He said the present bill was the creation of the Ministry, but must be attributed to those *' blaok-coated, hysterical individuals who in their hundreds recently went down the lobby and prayed on their bended knees to the Fiime Minister " for this legislation.

Mr Rutherford : Holy Joes. — (Laughter.)

Mr A. L. D. Fraser: Some people call them clerical 6and-baggers, and it ie not a very bad name.

Mr Aitken warmly defended the clerical deputation that waited upon the Prime Minister on this matter. He said they were quite within their rights, but he warned the Prime Minister that the bill did not satisfy them. It did not go in many ways in the direction they had asked the Prime Minister to go in. After some further discussion the report from the committee was tabled.

The general opinion is that the bill cannot pass this session. It has fctill to go through the second Teading, committee, and third reading stages, and after that to run the gauntlet in fhe Upper House, so that any further attempt to deal with it this session must be wast* of time. "

THE TOTALISATOR.

Mr Davey has given notice to move The following new clause in he Gaming- and Lotteries Bill: —

(a) 1. It shall be the duty of all racing clubs using the totalisator to pay out (after deducting the usual 10 per centum oommiseion) by way of dividend all moneys received from investments on the totalisator, provided that it shall not be necessary to pay out fractions of a shilling other than one-half. 2. Any breaoh of this section shall be an offence, and the penalty shall be « fine of not more than £100 for each offence-

(b) On and after the first day of September, 1908, the number of days on which the totalisator shall be used at all race meetings shall be reduced by onesixth of the number existing at the time of the passing of this act. Mr Jennings has given notice to move that all investments on the totaKsator must be made in oash : also for the appointment of inspectors. Inspectors are to see that all investments are properly recorded on the totalisator, and to check and certify to same and generally to see that the provisions of this act _are lawfully carried out. A charge of one-eiehth per centum in addition to any percentage now charged shall be deducted from the revenue of the totalisator and payable to the Government. Such gum shall be applied to paying the salaries of such inspectors. In a note Mr Jennings states that reoentlv in Ohrietohurcb. at the Christchurch Jockey Olub meeting, although the totalisator was shut before the time of fitertinsr the various races, yet in several instances money was rung on the machine after the race was run. . Hence the necessity of the Government appointing inspectors.