TOTALISATOR PERMITS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16559, 19 October 1921, Page 7

TOTALISATOR PERMITS.

ORDER-IN-COUNCIL TABLED BILL TO BE INTRODUCED. [Froai Ocr Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, October 18. The keen attention of the House was secured when tho Alinister of Internal Affairs this afternoon tabled th© Order-in-Co-uncil authorising him to issue the number of totalisator permits recommended by th© Racing Commission, though not indicating their allocation. He also presented tho Racing Commission’s report. “May 1 ask a question?” said Sir Georg© Hunter. hnd being given the necessary permission, the member for AA'aipawa asked : “If we agree to the laying on the table of this report and Order-in-Co-ancil, will it give effect to tho recommendations? ’* Mr Massey: My reply is that if it is allowed to lie on the table long enough without, challenge it would undoubtedly be giving effect to the report. I don’t wish to mislead the House, so I propose to state what will bo done. He explained that the Order-in-Council was being tabled in accordance with the Gaming Amendment Act of last session, which provided that if it was not agreed to by both Houses the original position, existing before the passing of last session’s Act, would be reverted to. CLEARING THE POSITION,. But.” continued Air Massey, “in order to give tho House an opportunely of discussing and expressing its opinion, I propose to bring down a short Bill of one or two clauses, dealwith th© number of da vs of racing recommended by the report. It will say that permits will be issued to racing clubs in excess of the present number but not exceeding the number proposed by the Commission. That will be the substance of the Bill, with some machinery clauses. This will have no effect by itself, because the Bill will not allocate th© permits to This is the business of the Alinister ofi Internal Affairs, but ho does not intend, any more than myself, to take the House and country at a disadvantage. He will, therefore, await tho passing of the Bill and the House may reduce the number of days, certainly in my opinion they will not increase them.” Ah* Al’Combs: You will stand for the number recommended by th© Commission ? Afr Alassey: Tt will lie the number recommended, and it will be for the House tt) say whether they agree to that number, or whether it shall be .reduced. Air Al’Combs: The Government stands for ah increase in number? Afr Alassey ; The honorable gentleman is trying to make political capital out of this. All* AUOombs : You are shuffling. The Premier warmly denied the impratation, declaring there was no party j question involved. The whole problem j was very difficult. The Government ! selected the best men it could find for the Racing Commission, and the public hnd the utmost confidence in them. Whether it agreed with their report or not it was made in good faith, and was being submitted to Parliament. REDUCE BUT NOT INCREASE. Mr AVittv: If it is agreed to, those cut out will stay out? L Air Alassey: Yes. if agreed to in its entirety, but this House will have the right to decide on the number of days. Tt. may reduce but not increase them. Tho Minister of Internal Affairs will bring down a scries of resolutions dealing with the different recommendations put forward by the Commission. Each and everyone will then have an opportunity of expressing opinions and voting for or against the different proposals. Air Isitt : Tt means that everyone will vote for an increase in the hope that be will come out all right (laughter). J>oes it not wipe out all the difficulties report presented and unit© all racing men? (Cries of ” Oh! ” and laughter). “ I would not like to say that,” replied th© Prim© Alinister with a smile. “ T cannot imagine the honorable gentleman voting for the report. Every mem her will vote as his principles incline.” Ah* Witty: Will there be any guarj ante© that clubs wiped out will be reini stated? That is the whole point. * ATr Alassey replied that it would be for Parliament, in the first place, to deal with the resolutions, then the matter Avould finally rest with the Alinbter of Internal Affairs. Parliament could not take away the powers it had given the Minister. Mr Tsif/fc : You bring it down as a nonparty Bill, so that you can vote against it if you feel inclined. (Laughter). Mr Alassey*s retort was that there were rulings that a member could vote .against his own motion if he wished, the idea being that he might be impressed w : ith arguments brought up in debase. (Laughter). His own position, as head of the Government, was that they were responsible for setting up a commission and submitting its report to Parliament, when every member could do as lie pleased. 7’he report could be discussed on Thursday or Friday. and the Alinister would bring down his resolutions the following week., Sir George Hunter: Jf flic Bill fails to become law will the report of the Commission stand? ATr Massey: Strictly speaking I could answer that the Order-in-CcninciJ would stand, but if the Bill fails I shall ask my colleague to withdraw the (>rdcr-in-Council. Sir George Hunter: Will any action he taken by the Government with regard to the Order-in-Council or report without the House having a further opportunity of considering it? ATr Alassey : Most certainly not. Air AYilford suggested that as the Order-in-Council and report were laid on the table under instruction of Statute they stood unless the Government presented some motion. Air Alassey agreed, but assured the House that the object of the Bill was jto give the necessary opportunity of j discussion. If the Bill wore agreed to | the Order-in-Council would stand. if i not he would ask the House to withj draw the Order-in-Council. Mr Jsitt: Ts it competent for me to | | challenge that paper (referring to the ' Order-in-Council) ? Mr Speaker replied that there could * | be no discussion at that stage, and the • | matter was dropped.