THE GAMING BILL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160737, 25 August 1920, Page 6

THE GAMING BILL.

(Special Correspondent). 1 WELLINGTON, August 24. As was generally anticipated, the V Legislative Council, under the tactful j guidance of # Sir Francis Bell, did not ! insist upon’ the amendments to the j Gaming Bill to which the House of j Representatives had taken exception, j Quite probably, provision for telegraphing investments to tho totalisator - would have made the extinction of the bookmaker more secure, arid obviously no great harm could have been done by the printing of the amounts of dividends, 1 already published on the racecourse; but Sir Francis Bell did not wish to run the risk of conferences with the House and easily persuaded the other members of the Council to accept his view. His owri amendrnent enlarging the definition of “bookmaker” was accepted-by “the other place,” and, if honestly administered, will do much -to reduce the volume of promiscuous gambling. THE BOOKMAKERS’ ATTITUDE. The bookmakers frankly admit that the Bill is much more drastic than they expected it, to be and that its provisions seem to put an end to the m<\rt lucrative part of their business. They do not admit, however, that the public has demanded legislation of this description or that the attempt to confine betting to the totalisator is going to reduce tho volume of gambling. Unc of their number holds strongly, indeed, that there will bo more gambling rather than loss and that means will be found for transmitting money to the totalisator which will provide pickings for people not nearly so scrap- | ulous as the better class of bookmakers have proved themselves to be. As far as can bo gathered from the members of the “profession” themselves there will be no attempt- to kick against the pricks. They will accept the inevitable,.