GAMING BILL

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15320, 22 August 1923, Page 6

GAMING BILL

INCREASE IN PERMITS.

DEALING WITH UNDESIRABLES.

The Gaming Amendment Bill, which has been introduced in the House of Representatives provides for the issue of twelve more totalisator permits to racing clubs, and nineteen more to trotting clubs. The Bill stales: —• In addition, the number of licenses to use the totalisator that may be granted to racing clubs, pursuant to Section 50 of the principal Act, or to racing, trotting, or hunt clubs, -pursuant to Section 2 of the Gaming Amendment Act, 1914, the Minister for Internal Asairs may grant licenses as follows: (a) Not more than twelve licenses to racing clubs to use tho totalisator on one day, and (b) not more than nintecn licenses to trotting clubs to use the totalisator on one day. At the time of the passing of the Gaming Amendment Act, 1910, the number of days in the racing year covered by totalisator licenses was, for racing 242, and for trotting 62, making a total of 304. No days were at this time allotted to hunt clubs. By virtue of the Act of 1910, a reduction was made in the days for racing of 43 days, leaving 199 days, and in the days for trotting .11 clays, leaving 51 days. The grand total of totalisator days for the racing year was thereby reduced from 304 to 250. Increase In 1914.

Then, by the Gaming Amendment Act, 1914, an increase of 31 days was made, being fifteen to racing clubs, eight days to trotting clubs, and eight days to hunt clubs. At the time of the passing of the Gaming Amendment Act, 1920 (No. 2), there were therefore 281 days in the year upon which the totalisator might be used, divided as follows: Racing clubs, 214 ; trotting clubs, 59; and hunt clubs, eight days. Under the lastmentioned Act the Minister for Internal Affairs was authorised to issue licenses to hunt clubs for eight additional days, making a total for hunt clubs of sixteen days, in the year, being one day each hunt club in existence. At the time, this made 289 days in all upon which, in any one racing year, licenses to use the totalisator might be issued. The Racing Commission presented its report in June, 1921, and recommended the issue of nine extra racing and nineteen extra trotting permits, the scheme involving a wide plan of redistribution. The recommendations were not given effect to. What New Proposal Means. The proposal In the Bill now introduced means that there will be a total of 320 days on which* racing, trotting, and hunt clubs may use totalisator permits. It Is proposed that if any racing club changes its constitution so as to become either a trotting club or a hunt club, it shall for the purposes of the distribution of licenses to use the totalisator, be deemed to continue to be a racing club, but shall not receive a greater number of licenses than that to which it may be entitled under its new constitution. This is to apply with the necessary modifications in the case of a change of constitution by a trotting club or a hunt club. An important proposal is embodied in the following clause: “It shall be lawful for any club licensed to use the totalisator to refund any moneys invested on the totalisator in respect of any horse which for any reason is withdrawn from the race before the totalisator is closed for that race.” In regard to the exclusion of certain persons from racecourses, it is sought to add to tho present penalty of a fine not exceeding £2O, the alternative ‘ or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months.” It is also proposed that “any person so removed shall not on the day of such removal re-enter the racecourse, and if he does re-onter, he may without warrant bo arrested by any constable and taken before a magistrate or any two justices, and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £SO, or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month.” Limit to Races on One Day. The limitation on the use of the totalisator and the number of races on any one day is amended as follows: “The totalisator shall not be open for the purpose of receiving investments more than eight times during one day at any race metieng. (2) At any race meeting for which a license to use the totalisator is not granted, not more than eight races shell be run on any one day. (3) If at any race meeting a breach of this section is .committed, every member, officer, agent, or servant of the racing club having control of that race meting shall, unless he proves that he was not a consenting party to that breach, be guilty of an offence punishable on summary -con vietion by a fine not exceeding £so.’ Provision is made for the appointment of inspectors of totalisators. Regarding the application of assets on the dissolution of a club, it is proposed that no member of any racing trotting, or hunt club shall be deemed to have any personal pecuniary interest in his capacity as such member in the property of the club, and on the dissolution of any such club, the assets remaining after all legal claims on tiie club have been satisfied shall be disposed of for public or charitable purposes in such manner as the club may, with the approval of the Minister, have determined prior to its dissolution, or, in default of such determination, in a manner appointed by the Governor-General-in-Council. The last clause in the Bill proposes that there may bo appointed as officers of the Public Service one or more inspectors of totalisators who shall have the right of free entry to meetings. lie mav enter the totalisator room, examine the machinery, demand information, and shall have such other powers as may be prescribed by legislation. Anyone hindering him is liable to a fine of £SO.