THE GAMING BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 181, 10 November 1910, Page 5

THE GAMING BILL.

CONSIDERED BY THE HOUSE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives last night the committal erf the Gaming Amendment Bill was movtd by Sir Joseph Ward. He said the committee to which the Bill had been referred had taken evidence on both sides. The committee bad endeavored to make the Bill a workable one. Under the proposals of the Bill the number of racing days would be considerably reduced by reason of the prohibition of bookmakers on racecourses. The amendments made by the committee provided that the number of days the totalisator may be used shall not'exceed 250, and each class of racing shall be reduced proportionately to the number of days on which the totalisator was used during the twelve months preceding the passing of uie Act. Another amendment provided that no race meeting shall extend over eight days in the case of a four days' meeting, six in the case of a three days' meeting, and four in the case of a two days' meeting. Investments on the totalisator had to be made in cash, banknotes or cheque before or at the time of investment. The provision applying to the exclusion of bookmakers from racecourses applied also to coursing matches, pigeon shooting matches and inanimate shooting matches. The Bill provided a penalty for street betting, and abolished bookmaking as at present existing. He would be prepared to deal With the provisions of the Bill in detail when the committee stage was reached.

Mr. Herries said the cry of too much racing was a bogey. Many of the country meetings were sports meetings with a few hack races, and not entitled to the name of race meetings. Since 1898, the number of meetings had only increased by 19. Taking the increase in population into consideration, the number of race meetings had not increased. Referring to clause 4, which provides that racing clubs shall take steps to prevent bookmakers from plying their calling on racecourses, he said this would liave the effect of reducing race meetings in the country districts where there was no totalisator to provide stakes. He criticised the clause setting up a commission to decide the number of licenses to be issued, which would not work satisfactorily. If hindrances were placed on the sport, it would do infinite harm to the breed of horses.

■Mr. E. H. Taylor (Thames) preferred to improve the breed of men rather than the breed of horses. If the magnificent sport of horse-racing could not be carried on without speculation and gambling, let the sport go.

Mr. Glover said horse-racing was the only enjoyment that thousands of working men had. He was prepared to oppose the Bill right up till Christina's. 'He was conscious of the approval of his constituents.

Mr. McDonald said the demand for reduction in race meetings was largely due to the Galloway and pony meetings in towns.

Mr. Wright gave a general' approval of the Bill, but was against the proposal to publish totalisator dividends. Mr. Wilford said the people who were now asking that the bookmaker should be banished from racecourses would be asking for the repeal of this provision in a few years. Mr. Witty contended that the proposal to arrest any man suspected of being a bookmaker would defeat tht main object of the Bill. The Bill was an attempt to make the sport clean, and thought it went too far in some re spects it would accomplish a great deal of good. Mr. Pearce did not agree that abolition of bookmakers would result in killing all country clubs. He would oppose any attempt to kill the sport. Mr. Massey reminded the House that the question was not a party one. So far as the members of his party were concerned they could vote as they pleased. He was of opinion that the Bill had been considerably improved in committee, and would, if passed into law, go a long way towards remedying abuses that, had grown up since the passing of the Act of 1907. If he could abolish gambling in one act he would do so, but he recognised that this was impossible. One of the worst and most degrading forms of gambling was betting with the bookmaker. There was far too much racing, and consequent gambling, and so far as the Bill remedied these evils it would have his heartiest support.

The House went into committee on the Bill. At the clause which provides penalties for street betting Sir Win. Steward moved to add the words after street, "as defined by section 34 of the principal Act." The amendment was agreed to. Mr. Wilford moved to increase the term of imprisonment for street betting for a second offence from three to six months, with the object of giving the offender the option of trial by jury. On a division the amendment was rejected by 63 to 12. Mr. Herries moved to substitute "bookmaker" for person in sub-clause 2, which provides a penalty for betting on racecourses.