SLOT MACHINES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 225, 23 September 1938, Page 13

SLOT MACHINES.

PENNIES AND DISCS.

VARIETY OF GAMES.

OPERATING ON SUNDAYS

The Derating of slot-machines on Sundays, .June 19 and July 10, in premises at Minion Bay, and allegations that pennies were used to operate the machines, were made by the police to-day again*t Arthur Adam Nixon of Mission Bay, who denied two charges <>t Sunday trading. Senior Serjeant ('a! well prosecuted, Mr. Steadman Hppcaring for the defendant.

Constable Cordon detailed visits he made to defendant's premises on June !'■> and July 10. The premises comprised a shop and tearoom, and contained a variety of about 25 slotmachines uned for the playing of games. On his first visit, which was at 12.4.) a.m. on a Sunday, witness saw nbout .10 people in the shop, manv of whom were playing the machines. The players were inserting pennies into the •■lots, and he ?aw no discs being lined. Witness purchased a packet of" cigarettes in the shop. On his second vTsit. which was on a Sunday afternoon, witness saw 25 machines being used, and pennies being inserted. When witness asked for 1/- worth of discs at the counter he was given 12 pennies. There were pennies on the counter in piles of half a dozen.

In answer to Mr. Steadman. witness said ho did not set; any machines that could not be worked with discs. No prizes were given, and there was no sign of any gambling.

(.unstable Collins, of Kohimarama, said the defendant's premises were eonducted in an orderly manner. The license granted the defendant to operate the machines definitely provided that the use of the machines should be free nn Sundays. Witness did not suggest that gambling was indulged in.

Richard Adam .1. Nixon, father of the defendant, and the latter, Itoth gave evidence. They said that with one or two exceptions the machine* could be operated by using either coin* or discs. It might happen that a person would insert a coin occasionally, but few people would pay for something they could have for nothing. Notices were posted on the walls on Sundays stating that the machines could only be played with disc*. The discs were supplied free on Sundays.

His Worship said he had no doubt the machines were operated on the two Sundays for profit by the proprietor. vTowever. he would treat the case an one conveying a warning, and fiae defendant 10/ and costs 10/ on each charge.