THE ROLL-DOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 137, 11 June 1926, Page 12

THE ROLL-DOWN.

NOT A GAME OF CHANCE. BUT ILLEGAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Giving judgment in the case against Messrs. Bishop and Daw son, roll-down proprietors, Mr, Page, S.M., said tha tests which had been conducted showed an clement of skill and he held it wa.s not a game of chance within the meaning of the Gaming Act. It was difficult, however, said the magistrate, to lay down a rule as to what degree of playing and wagering at a legitimate gams would cause the premises to become a public nuisance. The game had attained some degree of popularity, there was no opportunity for i heat ing, no assemblage of bad characters, no nuisance or annoyance to adjoining premises, but the game had no intrinsic merits. Its vogue was based solely upon a gamble associated with it. In view of the fact that a large numb.-r of its devotees were children and young people, and also that among adult patrons, probably a number could not well afford the money wasted, also that the amount of play reached substantial dimensions and the game was a gamble, he thought it prejudical to the morals of the participants and held that the keeping of the premises was illegal. Defendants were convicted and the fine was fixed at £5 1/ to enable an appeal to be made the security for which was fixed at £15 15/.