THE GAMING BILL

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 24

THE GAMING BILL

HOUSE AND COUNCIL DISAGREE,

PUBLICATION OF DIVIDENDS,

(Feom Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 17. In the House of Representatives to-day there was considerable discussion when members proceeded to consider the amendments made in the Gaming; Amendment Bill by the Legislative Council. Mr L. M. Isitt strongly attacked the amendments, and especially objected to the clause enabling bets to be wired to the secretaries of racing clubs. He was interrupted by the member for Wairau, Mr R. M'Callum, who urged him to keep his oratory for the soap box. Mr Isitt retorted that this was not a matter for silly jest, or vulgar interjections. At a later stage of the debate Mr Atmore (Nelson) took Mr Isitt to task for his reference to a jocular remark about the soap box made by the member for Wairau. The member for Christchurch North, he said, was inclined to sneer at everyone else's "isms," and to think that his _ own " ism" was the only one to be considered. He thought the hon. member would do well to take a broader view of things. Sir Wm. Hemes, who- in the absence of the Hon. G. J. Anderson was in charge of the Bill, said that the clause providing for wiring bets to the course was the natural corollary, to destroying the bookmaker, otherwise he would continue his business and take his risk with the jury. Before 1907 a man could wire to the club secretary to put money on the totalisator. The reason that was done away with was because at that time they put the bookmaker on the course and they had him under control. You could not destroy the bookmaker unless you took away his privilege of betting off the racecourse, and the surest way to do it was to give everyone who wanted to bet the opportunity of betting on the totalisator. The bookmaker, it seemed to him, flourished largely because he got the sympathy of the people who knew nothing about racing. The main discussion centred on an amendment moved by Mr M'Combs disagreeing with the new clauses inserted in the Legislative Council, permitting the telegraphing of bets to the course, and also the publication of dividends. Mr M'Combs's amendment was carried by 30 to 24- / The following was the division list: — For the Amend- Against the Amendment, ment. Eartram Atmore Burnett Bollard Oralgie Coates J. M. Dickson Field Edie Forbes Fraser Glenn J. B. Hamilton Guthrie Hanan Henare Hawk-en Herries Holland Hockly Horn liysnar Howard M'Galium Hudson M'Leod Isitt '■■".'i . Massey Luke ' Nash M'Combs . Nosworthy Malcolm . Parr Mitchell Poland Dr Newman Pomare E. Newman Beed Ngata B H. Bhodes Parry T. tV. Bhodes Seddon B. W. Smith Sidey Wilford Statham Stewart Sullivan Svkes Veitch ■Wright Sir W. Herries, Mr Witty, and Mr M'Combs were appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing frcjim the Council s amendments.