GAMING RAIDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 236, 5 October 1937, Page 8

GAMING RAIDS.

HAUL OF EIGHT.

FINES TOTAL £405. SEVEN MEN CONVICTED. STILL 'FAITH IK GOVERNMENT' Ten detectives took part in simultaneous raids on five city premises yesterday afternoon and arrested eight men on charges under the Gaming Act. By their appearance in the Police Court this morning, the Consolidated Fund will benetit to the extent of £405, for that whs the total of the fines imposed by Mr. W. K. McKean, S.M., on seven of the men.

ln turf language, Owen William Hughee, motor mechanic, aged 46, was a "maiden." He pleaded guilty to a charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker on September 18.

Detective-Sergeant McHugh, who proeccuted in all caees, said Hughes was arrested in a hotel where he had been plying his calling. Hughes had taken bets ranging from 2/6 to JEI. "This man is a new starter at this game, and this is hie first appearance," eaid Mr. McHugh. "The worst feature is that he has been betting on licensed premisee. Complainte were made and he was caught-

On behalf of Hughes, Mr. Selwyn Clarke said Hughes had been betting for only two months. Since he had been injured in a motor accident about twelve months ago he had been unable to follow his occupation. Any punishment imposed would be real in Hughes' caee, as he would have to borrow money to pay hie fine. He was a married man with five children, and he had assured counsel he would not continue to take bet*.

Mr. McKean: I've had such assurances from other men before. These men who carry on business in hotel bare are really a nuisance.

Fined £15, or one month's imprisonment, Hughes was allowed one week in which to pay.

"Democratic Issue." Next to appear was Arthur George Williams (47), tobacconist. He admitted that he had used his premises at 05, Pitt Street, as a common gaming house. Exercising a search warrant on the premises yesterday, Detective Sergeant McHugh said detectives found the usual betting material. Williams was not in a very extensive way of business. The magistrate remarked that it was evident that a £100 fine imposed last January had not acted as a deterrent.

"Yes, I'm sorry about that," replied Williams, "but I carried on, hoping that bookmakers would be licensed before now. I've just been going along betting with a few clients, hoping that the game would be legalised. I've been fighting all my life for an issue that is democratic. I haven't lost faith in the Government yet." (Laughter.) "Well, I don't know whether the line I'm going to impose Will alter your view about that," the magistrate said.

The f\ne was another £100. Charged with assisting in the management of the same common gaming house, Harry Millward, shop assistant, aged 31, pleaded not guilty. He was remanded, by consent, to appear on October 10.

Gooi "Customer." William Thomas Osmand (35), tobacconist, had nothing to eay, merely smiling after Detective-Sergeant McHugh had said hie little piece. "Raiding Oemand's place at 156, Hobson Street yesterday, detectives found Osmand in charge, and also a large quantity of betting material," eaid the detective-sergeant. "This material showed that he had taken over 600 bete and laid 134 doublee for Saturday's and yesterday's racing. The police also found £124 in cash. This place is a betting shop."

Mr. McKean: You have made eome good contribution* to the Consolidate J Fund, Osmand. I suppose you are also hoping that bookmakers will be licensed?—Yee, I hope so.

"I suppose I must make it as expensive as possible for you," added the magistrate, who fined Osmand the maximum (£100) for using his premises as a common gaming honee.

Said to be Oamand's assistant, Leonard Ray Kerr (35), labourer, who pleaded guilty, was fined £15 for assisting, in the management of a common gaming house.

Business in Bar. A plea of guilty was entered by John Chetwin Parker, aged 30, a barman, charged that being the occupier, he used the public bar of the Alexandra Hotel as a common gaming house.

Detective-Sergeant McHugh: Thie man is the son of the licensee of the hotel. He occupies and has sole charge of the public bar. For some time past we had received numerous complaint* that he was ueing the bar as a common gaining house, and yesterday afternoon the bar was searched under warrant. He has been carrying on an extensive betting business there. It is a bad feature that he hae been using the bar for betting. Part of the cash register was used solely for keepiqg betting slips and material. This he handed over to the detectives and frankly admitted his offence. He said his father did not know he was betting in the bar.

Mr. McKean: Does he expect yon to believe that? —I think he does, but we don't believe him. He has been carrying on for three jeans, and he is a flmt offender.

Mr. H. R. Duggan eaid that since Parker got married he had been doing some betting to supplement his earnings, but he was merely an agent receiving 7} per cent. He now intended to give the game up, as he realised that if there was a continuance of it it would jeopardise his job and probably the license of the hotel.

Mr. McKean: I suppose being able to use the bar give* him an unfair advantage over other bookmakers. So he has been carrying on for three years, and bis father knows nothing about it. H'm. The magistrate smiled. Then he said, "Fined £40."

Finding the front door of 73, Victoria Street, barred yesterday, two raiding detectives went round the back, entered, and arrested Ernest Llewellyn Jones, aged 50, wooldasser, and Walter Harold Downey (31), labourer, the former on a charge of using the premise* as a common gaming house and the latter with assisting in the management. Both pleaded «ruilty. ! Detective Sergeant McHugh said that, in addition to finding the usual betting material, detectives found the sum of £200 in cash. Jones was regarded as a man in a big way of business, who had previously been before the Court cm gaming charges. His last fine was one of £100 in November. , Jones waa fined £100 and Downey £36.'