GAMING BILL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16212, 24 August 1923, Page 10

GAMING BILL.

LINES OF COMPROMISE

NO CHANCE FOR PERMITS

(Parliamentary Reporter.V WELLINGTON, this day. The understanding when the House ended its long discussion on the Gaming Amendment Bill was that, the opposjng parties could talk over some features of the measure on which they are really in accord, and that an arrangement bo formulated under which tho Committee proceedings on the Bill may be. resumed. so as to pass certain portions which will not he lengthily discussed. There is every hope of a compromise, although the strongest- advocates bn, the Bill frankly.)confess that for this session at least there is no hope of obtaining approval for an increased number of permits. ‘I would agree to tho Bill if tho increase in permits is eliminated,” said Mr. Isitt to your correspondent. This, however, is not the attitude of the whole of the opposition. They also wish 1 to dcilcte clause 5, which makes very stringent penalties for persons who are considered undesirable, and are warned off lhe course, these persons being liable to arrest without warrant if they return to the course after warning. DIVISION DP FIELDS. Pacing supporters in the : are inclined" to accept) what- is left in, the Bill, as there are many valuable machinery clauses.'' For instance-, clause 6 provides that the totalisator may, only be used for eight races in one day. It,is so worded as tjo dispose of the evil of over-crowded fields. It will enable h large field in a race to be divided into two sections. Investments will be taken on the whole field, and the totalisator closed before the start of the first division. Each half of the field makes a race, and a dividend is paid out on tho first and second horses in each section, tho distribution beings made from the total amount invested on the race. Opponents of tho Bill n.ro as anxious as the supporters to see this clause adopted. Racing men ate content to waive their chance of inserting in tho Bill proposals to authorise telegraphed bets, or publication of dividends, so that the way is clear for a compromise. Unofficial discussions are going on, and there is a- general feeling that the result- will be the passage of tho Bill on modified lines as suggested above. EARLY MORNINcT DECISIONS. SOME EMBARRASSED MEMBERS.

(Parliameiitarv Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day.

After many hours of stone-walling, the Gaming Bill members of (ho House of Representatives took the advice of the Minister of Agriculture to register their opinions in it lie division lobbies, but the process involved difficulties, and some members found theinselves, judging by the sequel, in a very embarrassing position. First to be disposed of was the amendment by Mr. ' Fraser, Wellington Central, “that the Bill be referred to the Government with a recommendation that a Select Committee be . appointed, with; power to-'call for persons and papers, to inquire into the general conduct of racing, including l the desirability or otherwise qf licensing bookmakers, such committee to report to the House next session." •

This was negatived by 42 votes to 23, the division list being: For tho amendment (23) : Armstrong, Burnett, J. McC. Dickson, Fraser, Girling, Holland, Howard, Isitt, Jordan, Langstone, McCombs, Mcllvride, McIveen, > Munro, Parry, Potter, F. J. Rolleston, Savage, Sullivan, Wright. f Against tho amendment (42) : Anderson, Atniore, Bollard, Coates, Corrigan; de la Perrelle, J. S. Dickson, Field, Forbes, Glenn, Ifannn, Harris, Hawken, Hockly, Horn, Hudson, Luke, Lye, Lysnar, McKay, McLeod, MacMillan, MacPherson, -Massey, Masters, Murdock, Nash Nosworthy, Poland, Pomaro, Ransom, Sir R. H. Rhodes, J. C. RolHston, Smith, Stewart, Sykes, Thomson, Uni, Wilford, Williams, Witty, Young. FORGING A DIVISION.

The next, question for. decision 'was the second reading of the Bill. It con* tnined so many clause® which were quite acceptable to the mixed opposition section that the majority preferred to let the matter go on the voices. However, Mr. Harris persisted in calling “No.” He was approached by a. Labor member, but persisted in his opposition.. There was a -moment of suspense while Mr. Speaker took the • decision on . the voices, but it was evident a division must bo taken, though when the Speaker called on Messrs, Sullivan and Howard as tellers for: tho “Noes” they refused to act. ’ j

Mr. Wilford assured the House (sotto voice) that even if Mr. Harris failed to get someone to tell with him a Liberal supporter of the Bill would act, even against his expressed conviction, as the objectors to the Bill yere not to be allowed to get off easily* However, Mr. Burnett acted with Mr. Harris, and a division was taken.

There were many uncertain members who stood at the cross gangway deliberating before they made up their minds. Ultimately, }here being only two courses, they had to vote, and nine recorded their opposition to tho second reading, these being Messrs. J. McC. Dickson, Girling, Harris, Isitt, Jordan, McCombs, Munro, Wright, and Sullivan. '