THE GAMING BILL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5920, 11 October 1910, Page 1

THE GAMING BILL.

WELLINGTON, Oct 7. The eagerly looked-for Gaming Bill which has been the subject o£ speculation and comment for some time past, was introduced in the House this evening by Governor’s Message. The Bill provides that every person who frequents, loiters, or is in any street for the purpose of Betting is guilty of an offence, and is liable on iimimmary convictions to a fine of not less that £2O and not exceeding £IOO for a first offence, and to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months for a second off*a*e , or any subsequent offence, whether of 1 the same or a different hind. Section 3T of the principal act providing that racing clubs may issue censes to bookmakers is regaled, and eve)y license issued to a bookmaker cm'upnt at the commencement of tbs act shall cease to have any force or effect. Every racing club authorised to use the totalisator must use alt reasonable and lawful means of preventing bookmakers from plying (heir calling on the racecourse, Tf the Minister of Internal Affairs is satio(icd that any club has wilfully or negligently failed to comply with this section, he shall revoke the license of the club and refuse to any further license to the club for a year after the revocation.

It shall not he lawful for the. Minis ter in any year after .Inly 31, 1911, to issue more than 22 licenses for the : use of the totalisntor in the case of trotting clubs, or more than 100 such licenses in the case of all other rac in? clubs. Every such license is to he issuer] in respect of a single race meeting, and is to specify the day or days on which the totalisntor is au(horisecl to be used throughout New Zealand in any year after Inly 31, 1911, shall not exceed; (a) 50 days in the case of all trotting chibs : (h) 190 days in the case of all racing clubs other than trotting chibs). The Governor in-Conncil is empowered to make regulations respecting the granting of licenses and the conditions of issue. The clause in the old not respecting the limitation of totaUsator licenses is repealed in order to bring it into lino with the provisions . of the Bill. For the purpose of determining the number of licenses to lie issued from August 1, 1911, and the racing club to 'which these licenses are to bo granted, as well as the number of days on which the use of the totali sator is to he authorised by such licenses, the, Governor-in-Council is nnioowered to appoint a r'omm’ission of five persons, which shall have the powers of a comm'ssion under “The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1903. and all licenses granted by the Minis, (er from August 1, 191-1, shall be granted in accordance with the report of the commission. The Minister is specially empowered to revoke any b-

cense granted or to refuse in hits absolute discretion any license in any subsequent year. Investments on the totalisator arc restricted to money or bank notes actually paid at the time of invesk'mout, and no investment on the to- ' talisator nor any bet is to be made j by a person under the age of 21 | years. Breaches of the latter section are made punishable by a tine not exceeding .Cloo in the. case of officers or agents of raaing clubs, and by a tine not exceeding £SO in respect of * person under 21 years of age making a bet. False representation of ago is punishable bv a line of £lO. The Govornor-in-Coniici! is given power to exempt the Art Union of London (established by Royal charter) or other foreign institution from the operation of the provisions as to lotteries.