§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ 8.27 p.m.
§ Mr. PIKEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to consider one possibility arising from the application of this Clause? Would he consider the advisability of including at the end the words, "unless the totalisator be inoperative as the result of a mechanical defect"? The position may easily arise in the middle of a racing programme in which the totalisator becomes defective and the mechanics cannot put it back into operation for the completion of the evening's programme. Any bookmaking that takes place through the medium of bookmakers during the rest of that evening's programme would then, under this Clause, be illegal.
§ 8.28 p.m.
§ Sir J. GILMOURIt is unnecessary to have a protection of that sort, because such a contingency would happen very seldom.
§ Mr. LOGANWould it not be within the competency of the authorities of the track to allow bookmakers to operate? As I understand the Bill, if the totalisator is not operative the bookmakers can operate.