WAR ON "BOOKIES"

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 229, 27 September 1930, Page 10

WAR ON "BOOKIES"

SUGGESTED W PARLIAMENT. "BLIGHT ON COMMUNITY." £5000 IN FINES LAST YEAR. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The launching of a vigorous offensive against bookmakers was advocated by several members during consideration of the police vote in the House to-day. , Mr. R. A. Wright (Reform, Wellington Suburbs) asked the Minister whether he liad any information concerning "the bookmaking that was alleged to be so prevalent in New Zealand. It was common knowledge that the post offices knew the operators, who had telephones, just as ordinary merchants and professional men had. However, it seemed impossible that convictions could -,be obtained, and in his opinion something in the matter should be done one way or the other —the bookmakers must be-put down or they must be placed on a proper footing. If it were .tJj,o-. opinion of the Police Department that it was impossible to deal with the bookmakers effectively, and the community wanted them, the position should be faced. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Reform, Riccarton) said the annual report of the Department indicated that the prosecutions against bookmakers last year were satisfactory. However, lie hoped the new Commissioner of Police would stimulate tlxe force to try to obtain further convictions. He believed the Department could clean up a lot of the bookmaking that was practised in the Dominion. "I hope the new Commissioner will take the matter in hand," said Mr. H. G. Dickie (Reform, Patea). "Bookmakers aro a blight on the community, and I am afraid the recent in-

crcascd taxation on the totalisator will mean a bonus to the bookmakers. I'hope better facilities will .'be , given to :the police to prosecute these men, so that; next - year's returns •will show a substantial'increase in the; fines made. These

people are in every. Mr. H. G. Dickie, factory and freezing works in the county—parasites feeding on the men. The police know' these men are operating, all of them pursuing, as they do, an illicit business..'l am informed that they have established a powerful insurance fund, from which the fines are paid, and I hope-.this fund will soon be depleted." ' Quoting from the annual report of the Police Department, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister in charge of the Police Department, said that last year there had been 172 prosecutions, 147 convictions and £5000 received in fines. The police were attending to the matter, but, of course, it .was not possible to obtain convictions in every case. It was difficult .to obtain evidence. . ' "Of course," the Minister added .with a smile, ,"I know no member of this House knows any bookmaker, but, if any do, a hint given to, the Commissioner - will result in the matter being attended to." (Laughter-.) . ''' _