THE RACING PROBLEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3300, 19 August 1911, Page 8

THE RACING PROBLEM.

WILL MR. JENNINGS’ BILL PASS?

ATTITUDE OF the GOVERNMENT

CPBB PRESS ASSOCIATION.} WELLINGTON, August ISThe Gaming Act Commission s report came up for consideration in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Massey said he didn t know tn Government’s intentions in the matter, but he hoped any, amendment that would be made in the Act of last year would be on the lines of the Bill introduced by Mr Jennings. The difficulty seemed to have arisen over small clubs with one annual meeting each not bein a- represented on the Commission. The Hon. Millar said the Government intended to stand by the Commission s report. Parliament had desired to pass a measure reducing the number of days of racing and the number of permits. In due course the Government carrie out the will of Parliament apd set up a Commission which was composed or fair and straightforward men. Now the Government was asked to deliberately increase the number of racing days in the report of the. Commission. The debate was adjourned. Later.—The Hon. J. A. Millar continued the debate on the Racing Commission’s report. In his opinion the Commission was amply justified in everything it had done. The report showed that some courses were more fit for fariru horses than for race horses. The Commission had done, more to improve racing than anything else had done. The report ought to be given a fair trial, and after twelve months the whole position could be reviewed. They had taken a new departure, and he asked the public to approve it. He had found out that Messrs McVav and Nolan had been country clubs’ delegates for years. This was an answer to the suggestion that country clubs had not been represented on the Commission. Mr Hardy. (Selwyn) contended that the Commission had acted unfairly and unwisely. Mr Field (Otaki) said that the Act of last year said, that the country clubs should have consideration and they had not received that. The whole wish of Parliament had been ignored by the Commission. Mr Poole (Auckland W.) said the effort to introduce legislation to nullify the Act of last session would not be looked on favorably by the public at large. Mr Jennings (Tauma.runui) maintained that if the Commission’s report were analysed it would, be found, to be not worth the paper it was printed, on. Mr Davey ('Christchurch) said no one could say that the report was in accordance with the Act. Mr Pearce (Patea) said one of the intentions of the Commissioners seemed to have been to drive the country people into the towns. Mr Wright (Wellington S.) 'held it “was one of the most valuable reports ever laid on the table of the House. The Hon. R. McKenzie said it would be a great advantage to pure racing if a great deal of the totalisator betting died, out to-morrow. • He was prepared to.- give the report of the Commission a trial for a year, though personally his sympathies were with Mr Jennings’ Bill. He could , not imagine that the House would go hack on what it had done last, session. Mr Buick. (Palmerston N.) hoped last year’s Gaming Bill would not be repealed, and so allow bookmakers to be again legalised; . Mr Fisher (Wellington C.) said he would like to see .country .racing preserved and would. like to see ifiee meetings decreased proportionately in town and country. Mr Laurenson. (Lyttelton) would like to see the totalisator wiped right out. With reference to .the Commission’s report, if the Commission had been composed of five archbishops, or five 'bookmakers, or five , spielers, they could not have pleased everyone. Mr Colvin entered a, strong protest against the way in which country clubs had been penalised. He had intended to move: “That in the opinion of this House the report of the Racing Commission is not in’, accord, with the spirit of the Gaming Act, 1910, under which they were appointed, and that the report be referred back t'o„ the Government for a review of the whole position in the interests of Country clubs which have been unduly penalised.” In view of the temper of the House, however, he would refrain from doing so. Messrs MacDonald, Sodden, (Smith, and Stallworthy continued the debate, which concluded at 10.40, and the House thereupon rose.