ALL-NIGHT SITTING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16211, 23 August 1923, Page 3

ALL-NIGHT SITTING.

WRANGLE OVER GAMING BILI

ORG ANISED STONEWALL. PRIVATE CONFERENCE TO BV

HELD

(Per Pi-ess Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day

After the telegraph ollice closed, the debate on the second reading of the (laming Act Amendment Bill was continued for some hours on the line.s of a well-organised stonewall. Several speakers complained that they had refrained from speaking many times during the session in order to expedite the business. They therefore resented the Premier bringing down such a contentious measure which the supporters had not justified, and which the Minister had flung on the floor of the J louse.

In a three minutes' speech at 5 a.m., the Hon. Mr. Nosworthy made a .suggestion that opponents' of the Bill could best register their opinions in the division lobby. There was no need to occupy further time in talk. He advised taking a test on an amendment and a motion to read the Bill a second time. Then tho House could adjourn. Mr. llohand, on behalf of the Labor party, accepted the suggestion, and on a division being taken the amendment was defeated by 42 to 23.

On the motion that the Bill be read a second time another division was called for, tho motion being carried by 56 to 9. •The Premier then intimated that he proposed to go into committee on the Bill forthwith.

Mr. Holland at once declared that this was a breach of faith, and he drew the Premier's attention to the arrangement made with Air. Nosworthy. The Premier said he had no wish to bo guilty of a breach of faith, but there uere several valuable clauses in the Bid apart from the one increasing permits, and he wished to get them through. He had been specially appealed to to pass the clause limiting the number of horses in a field.

Mr. Isitt explained that if, the Piemier would drop the increase of permits he would drop his opposition to the remainder of the Bill.

After tho Minister of Customs had explained the origin of. several clauses, the House went into committee.

A wrangle immediately arose as to whether the Government was not guilty of a broach of faith.

The Premier said there would be no breach of faith, but he asked the House to pass the first, clause, and then lie wotdd move to report progress, in the hope that members would confer in the meantime and arrive at some arrangement which would result in the valuable clauses being agreed to. The Hon. D. Stewart suggested that the contentious clauses bo deferred, and the non-contentious clauses passed. If that wero done be woidd give tho Labor party assistance to establish li seven stone minimum weight for jockeys. Mr. McCombs said that if clauses 2 and 5 were definitely dropped, and not deferred, the valuable clauses might be passed in a few minutes. The Hon. I). Stewart said that, the proposal was most unfair. Mi- McCombs said: "'lf you think that the debate must, go on," and he proceeded to discuss tho first clause.

At, the close of his speech the Premier moved to report progress, saying that ho woidd throw the responsibility on those who opposed the Bill.

After a further hour's discussion, during which several members put forward conciliatory suggestions with the view of avoiding a deadlock, progress was reported with the understanding that a private conference would be held between the conflicting sections in the hope of arriving at some settlement "hen the. Bill comes up again. The House rose at 6.40 a.m. till 2.30 p.m.