PICKING WINNERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 51, 1 March 1923, Page 5

PICKING WINNERS.

A NEWSPAPER COUPON. IS THB StHEME ILL-EC.AL* The case in which Arthur Cleave and Co., Ltd., is being proceeded against under the Gaming Act, in consequence of the publication of a special coupon in the "Sporting and Dramatic Review." offering a prize of £">0 to the reader who would name the three placed horses in a certain race was continued before Mr. Poynton, S.M., yesterday after the "Star" i\ent to press. Mr. V. R, Meredith (for the Crown) stated that the case was a test one to decide the legality or otherwise of the scheme instituted by defendant company. The company contended that it was entitled to carry on the coupon scheme, but the Crown maintained that if the coupon was an inducement to the purchase of the paper, the case would be on a line with similar cases in Great Hri tain, which had been declared illegal. It was clear that the defendant company would not give away £-50 every few weeks for no return. The object of the prize had been to increase the. circulation, and the scheme had succeeded in a remarkable way.

Acting-Detective Rarling gave evidence of having gone to the oflice of the "Sporting and Dramatic Review" and purchased the publication from a girl behind the counter, paying one shilling. Constable Walton also gave evidence as to purchasing a copy of the "Review" of August 31, containing a coupon. Mr. Meredith: Who served you?

AVitness: A fair girl. Did she say anything?— Yes -. she said, "You ought to win it." (Laughter.) I replied, "Yes; I'll write you out a cheque now for £50." (Laughter.) Witness said the second copy of the publication he got was presented to him. Mr. Meredith: You being a regular customer. I suppose they thought it a fair thing to present it to you. (Laughter.) Mr. McVeagh: You there to purchase one paper? es.

With as many shillings as necessary, I believeV —Yes, with instructions to buy the copies of the paper containing the coupon. You were handed the paper by a fair girl?— Yes, by that one I indicating a young lady sitting in Court). Mr. McVeagh: Yes, that's Miss McLean. Was there another girl there?— Yes, there was another girl, with nice brown hair. (Laughter.)

Did you cut out the coupon?— Yes. In the office:—No; one was cut out for mc.

' Detective O'Sullivan said he also went to the office and asked for a copy of the "Sporting and Dramatic Review," with a coupon. The fair young lady said: "It is not in this week's, hut in the copy of August 24." She supplied him with a copy of that date, and asked him ii he would fill in the coupon there, to which he said "Yes." She then handed him pen and ink and a pair of scissors, and he filled in the horses' names and placed them in an envelope.

The fair young lady went into the manager's office then, continued witness, and another young lady came along, so he bought a copy of the paper from her too. This young lady said "Thousands have been here for the coupon, and I wish you luck." Witness went back to the police station and tilled in the second coupon there.

Mr. McVeagh: We want to know the voting lady who said "Thousands have been here."

Witness indicated a young lady in blue, sitting in Court.

Mr. McVeagh: I may tell you the total number of tho sales were nothing like that.

Detective Ward also gave evidence, of going to the office of the "'.-porting and Drama? ic Review" for a cop* of the publication. He was asked by a lady clerk if he wanted one containing a coupon. He said he did and she gave him one. He took the paper away, cut the coupon out and posted it. "I paid 1/ V'or the paper," said the detective. How did you get on with your guess ? —"No good," replied the detective regretfully. (Laughter.) Witness said when he interviewed Mr. Cleave about the coupon, Mr. Cleave told him that he had the best legal advice and had been informed that the competition was not illegal. Mr. McVeagh maintained for the defence that it was perfectly lawful for newspapers to publish such advertisements. In this case the-coupons were issued free, and everyone who bought the newspaper paid for that and not a penny for the coupon. The circulation of the paper had increased owing to general improvements, and not localise of the issue of the coupon. The sales over the counter had been very few—though the police seemed to have rushed it. (Laughter.)

Further argument was reserved until the following day.

This morning it was arranged that argument will not be resumed until Monday.