"BETTING SHOPS"

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21939, 13 November 1936, Page 15

"BETTING SHOPS"

COMMENT BY AUCKLAND MAGISTRATE ONE MAN FINED £IOO AFTER POLICE RAID (ruu jkMocunoa raureauc.) AUCKLAND, November 12. As a result of a raid by 15 detectives yesterday afternoon, on six premises in the city, six men were charged in the Magistrate’s Court today with using the premises as common gaming houses and six with being unlawfully on the premises. In fining one man £IOO, Mr Wyvem Wilson, S.M., commented on the bad effect of “betting shops,” and referred to those who conducted them as “parasites.” Ernest Llewellyn Jones, aged 58, a wool-classer, was charged with using premises, and Walter Harold Downey, aged 30, a labourer, charged with assisting, pleaded guilty. They were represented by Mr F. W. Schramm, who said that Jones had been in bad health and had adopted this illegal means of supplementing his income. He was of good character and reputation —an honest citizen who had never “welshed” anybody. The magistrate: I don’t think a man can be said to be an honest citizen who earns a livelihood by breaking the law. "Opinions sometimes differ, your worship,” said Mr Schramm. “Some laws have not behind them the force and backing of public opinion.” The magistrate: In my opinion, it is worse not to have laws enforced than to have them on the statute book and disregard them. I don’t think it can be said that the law has not the backing of public opinion, otherwise it would not be there. The magistrate fined Jones £IOO, and Downey was fined £25, or 14 days’ imprisonment The pouce said that three men found on these premises were on “The fact that they were on sustenance is a very strong indication of the bad effect of these betting shops,'’ said the magistrate, who added that “parasites” lured them in to part with their few shillings. Each was fined £2. Arthur George Williams, aged 41, a tobacconist, was fined £75 for using premises. Other cases were adjourned for a week on the application of counsel.