DEPUTATION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2803, 4 December 1907, Page 57

DEPUTATION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WELLINGTON, December 3. A deputation of bookmakers waited' on tha Attorney-general to-day to complain ' about the manner the new Gaming Aat hadk been administered by the Feilding 1 " Racing | Club, and to ask that iihe law should' be j carried out in the spirit intended by tho1 Legislature. The deputation asked thai: J a mandate should be issued to racings clubs , compelling them to administer the act faixdy. The bookmakers protested agaiqot j being charged £20 a day,, and also againsft being roped, in- in on enclosure. Dr Findlay, in reply, said he wanted to> explain that bookmakers hod no right t*>> pxpecit, and would not set,, any indulgence from the Government The duty of tthoGovernment would not permit them to>> show any favour in any shape or fora* , to any agency of gambling. But her quoted the acts to show that tho Govern- . mont had power to cancel or refuse to. issue a license for the totalisator, and. h«> indicated that in the event of a. olub ask> ing- bookmakers to observe unreasonable conditions, be would advise the Cabinet} to have that club's tolalisator permit ean>celled. The bookmakers had been given* ' a legal status and they were to be put in- no worse and m no better position fchao. the totalisaioi on the course. The actr would be administered in a- spirit of fairness, and the Government would also endeavour to secure an absolute obeecvana** j of its provisions. '