Part of Orders of the Day — Dog Racecourse Betting (Temporary Provisions) Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 21 March 1947.
Lieut-Colonel Sir Cuthbert Headlam
, Newcastle upon Tyne North
12:00,
21 March 1947
I may be wrong, but that is what I understood, and I am moving this Amendment because I am assured by many correspondents on the North-East coast that it would be a boon to workers in general if the hour Were fixed at 12 noon rather than at one o'clock, for various reasons, such as changes in shifts and the fact that some workers are able to get away earlier. I am also informed that in some stadiums which have football grounds attached it would make it easier to cater for the public at large if a little more time were allowed.
I move the Amendment, therefore, in order that the Home Secretary may explain to the Committee why he has fixed this particular hour and what the objection is to making it 12 noon instead of one o'clock. I have no doubt that he has reasons, but I should be very much obliged if he could give them to the Committee in order that we may be able to satisfy those who write to us as to the real reasons which are influencing the Home Secretary in this matter. I am not, myself, a frequenter of dog racing; I have never been to a meeting in my life, but there are so many people who ho do go and who appreciate them that I think that everything should be done to make the loss of them as light as possible for such people. If it would be better for them to make the hour 12 noon instead of one o'clock I hope the Home Secretary will see his way to gratifying their wishes.
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