Licensing of Sideshowmen

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7281, 7 October 1933, Page 6

Licensing of Sideshowmen

Giving Power to A. and P,

Societies

.BILL BEAD A SECOND TIME

Per Press Association WELLINGTON, Last Night. In moving the second reading of the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies’ Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives this afternoon, Hon. C. E. MacMillan said that for some time past A. and I’. Societies had been asking for authority by which sideshowmen ar their fixtures might be controlled. Mr. J. A. Lee: You arc giving them power to exclude anyone. Mr. MacMillan said the Bill gave the societies power to exclude undesirable persons. He thought they were entitled to that. Mr. Lee said no one would deny that the societies should have the right to exclude Undesirable sideshowmen, but the power should not be given to one individual to exclude another for whom ho might have some dislike. He felt sure DU out. of 100 A. and P. societies would not exercise the power unfairly, but there was a possibility that such a thing would occur. Mr. J. A. Nash said that passage of the Bill would afford protection to patrons of shows. Hon. J. G. Cobbu said the Bill was intended to keep the shows free from individuals who took the public down. Mr. H. S. Kyle said the showmen themselves were anxious to eliminate undesirables.

lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes said ho was satisfled that A. and P. societies would not abuse the privileges granted by the Bill.

Mr. H. E. Holland (leader of the Opposition) said that, as far as lie could sec, there was nothing in the Bill that was not already on the Statute Book. He hoped the Minister would give an assurance that no power would be conferred on societies that would make it possible for any citizen to be subjected to the unthinkable and unjustifiable treatment that many quite reputable citizens had received, at the hands of the Racing Conference. Mr. MacMillan said there was no provision in the existing statutes for the licensing of sideshowmen. It was desirable that this step should be taken so that reliable information about them could be passed on from one society to another. The Bill was read a second time.