Debate on An Act for the Better Improvement of Gaming

Official report · Assembly of SchwartzistanSession 1904 · col. 9276

The Speaker: The Order of the Day is the third reading of the Bill. The Minister has the floor.

Karl Hirsch (Minister of Justice): I beg to move that the Bill be now read a third time and do pass. I move the Bill without apology. The offence exists; the penalty did not fit it; the Bill fits it. I commend the Bill to the House.

Hugo Rabe (The Osmoor; The Continuity Party): Mr. Speaker, My constituents in The Osmoor wrote to me about the Bill, all 3 of them, and they were against it until they read it. I have read the Bill for what it does to the record, which is the only reading that matters, and it does nothing to the record. I have the Bill before me and the House has it before it. The courts have asked for the Bill and the courts should have it. I cannot vote for the Bill as it stands and I shall not.

Gustav Zorn (The Capital District; The Workers' Front): Mr. Speaker, The mills of Kessel will feel this Bill before the Ministry does. I say so now so that nobody may say afterwards that they were not told. The penalty is severe. The offence is common. The House may draw its own conclusion. I sit for The Capital District. The clerks there are few and the roads are long, and any officer the Bill appoints will spend a week finding the houses. I support the Bill, with the reservation I have stated. [The Line!]

Aurel Wendl (The Sudmark; The Reed Party): Sir, My constituents in The Sudmark wrote to me about the Bill, all 3 of them, and they were against it until they read it. The Reed Party has read the Bill with the harvest in mind. The harvest is late this year and the causeways are under water in two districts. I have the Bill before me and the House has it before it. The penalty is severe. The offence is common. The House may draw its own conclusion. My party will divide the House on the Bill. [Shame.]

The Minister thanked the House for a short debate and asked for a short division.

The Speaker put the question. The Ayes were challenged and the House divided.

The Speaker: The Ayes have it. The Bill is passed and will go to the Grand Chancellor for assent.

The House adjourned at half past 2 in the afternoon.