THE GAMING BILL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11116, 2 November 1907, Page 5

THE GAMING BILL.

IMPORTANT NEW PROVISIONS

GAMING HOUSES DEFINED.

STREET BETTING SUPPRESSION

(From our Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day. Tlie Gaming and Lotteries Amendment Bill was 'circulated after the House rose this morning. . i A penalty not exceeding £100, or three months' imprisonment, is provided for owning or keeping any house, room, or place as a common gaming house, taking part m the management of the same, or advancing money for gambling purposes at 6uch places.. Anyone found m a. common gaming house without lawful excuse may be fined £5. Clubs m which gaming is carried on come within thp category of common gaming houses, notwithstanding that entry is confined to ' members or subscribers, but this' clause does not apply to clubs chartered under the Licensing Act, 1881. •■■ .; . . "

Every game of chance is declared an unlawful game for the purposes of this Act, and lottemes' are also included. ; Power is: given to the Supreme Court to declare premises a common gaming house on affidavit by a police superintendent or inspector that this is suspected to be the case. The police, on such decla-, ration shall advertise the fact, and cause ainotice to;be served on the owner, occupier, or agent. i Clause 17 provides for the expulsion of the occupier fr6m declared premises apy person found on or entering- premise's after the declaration m -force shall/ be likble to arrest . without warrant. The fine m such case shall be riot less than £5 and not more than £100. The ; owner o.f the premises is liable to a fine who falQ •to evict an occupier against whom a declaration, has been made. ; To' ; obstruct a constable or to give warning of his approach is an'offence punishable by a fine up -to £100, or three months' imprisonment; ; ' " ; | 'Any person who uses any street for betting is liable to a' fine of ; not less than £20 and riot mo-re tlian £100 for the first offence ; for a subsequent offence to three months' imprisonment; ; Persons I betting on sports grounds are liable to a fine of. £20 arid expulsion; . ; " ; An- officer of a racing club shall not accept telegraphic instructions as to investments on the tote, otherwise .he is • liable to a fine ranging from' £20 to £50. ; No telegrams relating to betting or I itt^ on the tote shall be delivered at any racecourse. - Advertisements as" to betting on horse races are prohibited iin r def pain of a penalty of £20, But ;this section t does not apply to advertisements' or notifications exhibited solely on the| racecourse by any racing club authorised to use' the totalisator, Or tb ; any >' publication .after the race of information m respect the race or tfre results of betting m connection therewith. ' i

, The' use of the double tote or of the machine m regard to 'the place of more than one horse m any ; one; race is made illegal, on. pain of at fine of £20 to £50V No sum for investment on the tote shall be received after or withii! five minutes of the notified time of .'the starting of ; the race, and no investments shall be received otherwise, thaii at; the tote. Any person committing an offence, against this section is liable to a fine not exceeding •■£loo. ■■- • ::<;■<>.: ..';.. ,•-, >.-■'■■/.:■':?■

clubs may, with the approval of the Governor, make regulations cont^ollintj admission to racecqurses.vand may exclude therefrom any specified' class of persons, either absolutely or subject to conditions. ; '

-Every racing club authorised to tise the totalisator shallj on application, issue licenses to fit and proper persons to carry on business as bookmakers on the club's racecourse. A club may charge a fee not exceeding £20 forevery day of the currency of such license. : ! (Per Press Associatipn.)

AUCKLAND, this day! Auckland. racing men generally approve the new Gaming and Lotteries Bill.