THE GAMING ACT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14331, 8 October 1910, Page 3

THE GAMING ACT.

details op its Provisions. (Bv Our Parliamontarv Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. The Gaming Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Governor’s message tonight, makes some importantehanges in . the: existing law. ; V It is provided that every person who frequents, . loiters, or is in any street.: for the purpose of betting is guilty of 1 an offence and is liable to a fine of not less than £2O and not more than £100 ; for a first offence, and to imprisonment for a period not exceeding throo months ~ for a second or any subsequent offence. Section 34 of the existing law providing for the licensing of bookmakers is repealed by clause 4. . .-i-. ■■■ A duty is oast upon racing olubs authorised to use the toto to exercise all ■reasonable and lawful moans-of preventing bookmakers from plying their calling on racecourses; and Hie Minister is empowered to revoke the license of any club that has wilfully .' or negligently failed to comply with the provisions of the section, and shall refuse to issue any further license in respect of such club for one; year ■ after the date, of reyoca- . tion. The number 1 of licenses to use the totaliaator after July 31,1911, is re-stricted-to twenty-two in the case of trotting clubs and to one hundred in the ease of all other racing clubs Every license is to be issued in respect of a 1 single race meeting,;and is to specify the day or days on whiclvtho totalisator is to be used. The aggregate number of days on which the totalisator is to ho authorised to bo used in any year after July 31 next is limited to (a) fifty days m the • case of all trotting clubs, and (b) to one . hundred and ninety days in the cate of , all racing clubs. The Govcrnor-in-Council ,is empower- ■ od to make regulations as to the granting of licenses and the conditions on which such licenses may ho issued. There is an additional provision in the Bill cmpoweimg the Gqvcrnor-m-Council to appoint a commission of five persons to determine the number or" licenses to he issued during the year commencing August 1, 1911. All such licenses are to be granted by the Minis- • ter of Internal Affairs in accordance with the report of the commission. , At the same time the Minister is given ■ power v to' 1 ■ revoke any. license . granted or to grant or refuse in his absolute discretion any license any subsequent year. Investments on the totalisator are strictly limited to cash (money or hank notes) actually paid at .the Aims of investment, i and. the Bill makes it illegal for any person under 21 years of age to invest oh tlu totalisator or make a bet with any other person.' Ahy servant of a racing club taking an investment on the totalisator from a person under 21 years of ago is made liable to a fine not exceeding £IOO, and any person under 21 years making such an investment is liable to bo. fined in a sum not l exceeding £so.' A. person falsely representing lumaelf to be over, the ago of 21 years to a racing club official is liable to a fine of £lO in iospcot of the clause of the Bill just referred to. Finally, the Govcrnor-in-Council is empowered vto declare that the provi- : 1 sions of the principal Act and of all other Acts prohibiting lotteries shall not apply to the Art: Union of London (established by Royal charter) or.to,any other institution or association cetablisbcd with like objects outside New Zealand. REV. J. J. NORTH’S VIEWS. , DUNEDIN, ’ Oct. 8. Interviewed by a Star reporter, the Rev. J. J. North said the provisions of the Gaming Bill represented a groat deal less than the country asked for. The provisions .against street Betting were as ineffective as over. ‘What was wanted was reasonable moans of detection audl. prevention,; not the increase ' of the penalty. The police would find it impossible to secure convictions. The . onus of proof ought to bo placed on the sharpers and racecourse habitues. A grave: defect of the Bill was that relating to "bookmakers. .They would, still flourish exceedingly as: under theold conditions. To kill the bookmakerit was necessary to make his every public appearance a crime. :' The appointment of a special .oommmission to arrange for totalisator permits was very wise.