FAN-TAN DEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1937, Page 8

FAN-TAN DEN.

CHINESE COMPLAIN.

PREMISES HOW CLOSED.

OCCUPIER FINED €20.

"This is the witness whom wo produced in this Court a week ago in connection with the accusation that another man was running a fan-tan school," said Mr. L. P. Leary. who appeared for Ah Gin, an elderly Chinese, charged in the Police Court to-day with using premises in Grey Avenue, of which lie was the occupier, as a common gaming house. Ah Gin pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant McHugh described the raid nia-dc on the premises by detectives on April li when 14 Chinese were arrested. These, he said, had been dealt with. "We made the raid on this fan-tan school because of complaints made by the Chinese community in Auckland," said Mr. McHugh. "The Chinese asked us to put these men out of the gambling den. The men will not work in the gardens, preferring to stay in the city and gamble. Ah Gin wae the occupier. In February he was fined £10 on. a similar charge and he went straight back and started again. If it were not for him the gambling place would not go on. However, the place lias now been closed and we intend to keep it closed." Mr. Leary asked the magistrate, in assessing the degree of punishment, to keep in mind the fact that the place had been closed, and that Ah Gin's profit* had l>een small. "The fine of £10 imposed in February evidently was no deterrent,"' said Mr. McKcan. "This time he will be fined £20, or six weeks' imprisonment."