Magistrate’s Court

Press, 18 September 1976, Page 5

Magistrate’s Court

League club fined for having poker machines

Seven poker machines, commonly known as “onearmed bandits,” were found hidden in locked cupboards in the Papanui Rugby League Football Club rooms when the premises were searched by detectives on July 12, Mr F. G. Patterson, S.M., heard in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Two executives from the club appeared on its behalf, and pleaded guilty to the charge of allowing the club rooms to be used for gaming.

The club was fined $125 by the Magistrate, who ordered the destruction of the seven machines.

Sergeant D. Gibson told the Court that as a result of information received, detectives searched the premises of the club in Sawyers Arms Road on July 12. Six poker machines were found in a locked room at the back of the premises. The machines were in locked cupboards. A seventh machine was found elsewhere on the premises.

The machines were manufactured in Australia and were unobtainable in this country, said Sergeant Gibson. They were worked by inserting a 10c coin and pulling a handle, which activated tumblers. The tumblers indicated the result. The police had recovered $141.61 from the machines, which were cleared weekly by the club, he said. Counsel for the club, (Mr S. G. Erber), said that he agreed with the police summary except for the statement that the machines were unobtainable in this country. Mr Erber said that any private person could import the machines, provided they were for private use. He said the Papanui club was the largest rugby league club in Christchurch and had bought the machines only to raise funds. He said the machines were used only on social occasions, and were played by members of the club and friends brought to the socials. The “profits” went to the club and nobody received any personal benefit. “There was nothing sinister about the operation, and the club is going to make a substantial loss now, as the machines have not been fully paid off,” said Mr Erber. He said the machines were second hand, and the club had not made any profit from them.

Before fining the club, the Magistrate said he appreciated what such clubs were

doing for sportsminded young people and they would always have the support of the Courts for that reason. However, the Papanui club had gone beyond bounds and the machines were clearly illegal. Other clubs like-minded would do well to take a warning from this incident, he said. ROAD SIGN THEFTS

Five youths who stole and damaged road-marking signs, the property of the Christchurch City Council and the Automobile Association, were convicted on a total of 20 charges. They are Neil James Covell, aged 18, a student, William Gilbert Grace, aged 18, a student, Norman Francis Mcßae, aged 23, a carpenter, Anthony William Rossiter, aged 17, a foundry worker, and Owen Frederick Thomas, aged 25, a laundry hand. All were represented by Mr T. Kiesanowski.

Each pleaded guilty to three charges of theft and one charge of wilful damage. Sergeant Gibson said that on August 20, the defendants, in Mcßae’s car, had driven to New Brighton and taken a “Single lane” roadworks sign, a stop sign, and two A.A. signs. These were put in the car.

They were later stopped by the police, who found the signs. The defendants were arrested, and spent the night in the cells. The two students would be placed in difficulty through a penalty of community work at present, said Mr Kiesanowski. The offences were committed after the defendants had been drinking, and were out of character, he said. In placing the defendants on probation for one year, ordering each to do 50 hours of community work, the Magistrate said the offences could affect public safety, and they had deserved their night in the cells. Each had his driver’s licence cancelled for three months, and was ordered to pay restitution of $1.99c. 14 FALSE PRETENCES A 22-year-old machine operator faced 14 charges of false pretence and one charge of car conversion. Tamitai Wiremu Hone Hohia Karaitaianna pleaded guilty to 11 of the charges and was remanded to October 7 for a fixture on the remaining four. Sergeant Gibson told the Court that on September 17 this year, a $l5OO car was

taken from outside a pool parlour in Christchurch. The number plates were changed and two black stripes painted on to disguise the vehicle.

Between September 17 and 23 the defendant and some associates travelled in the car round the South Island. A cheque book belonging to the owner of the car was found inside, and cheques from it were used to pay for meals, petrol, clothing and accommodation during the journey by the defendant. A number of other items found in the car were sold in Christchurch. None had been recovered. Places visited during the journey included Wanaka, Greymouth, Hokitika, Nelson, Picton, Blenheim, Dunedin, and Ross. Karaitaianna was remanded to September 24 for a probation report and sentence. SHIP OFFENCES A 20-year-old solo mother who pleaded guilty to one charge of assault and one charge of theft committed both offences while on board ships berthed at Lyttelton, the Court heard. Ruby James was put on probation for a vear and ordered to carry out 50

hours of community work by the Magistrate, who told her that if she had so much time for partying and “loose living” such a sentence would put this time to better use.

Sergeant Gibson said that on September 9, the defendant went aboard a Japanese ship with four other girls to attend a party. She went into the cabin of a seaman and took a watch worth $5O. On September 10, James and some friends again went aboard a ship berthed at Lyttelton. An argument took place and the defendant punched the complainant with her fist, and pushed her out of the cabin they were in. The complainant suffered bruising and cuts. RECEIVING Derek Randle Fisher, aged 46, a former taxi driver, (Mr D. P. H. Dawson), was convicted on a charge of receiving $217.40. Sergeant Gibson told the Court that the directors of the defendant’s former company had ordered him to pay his takings into the firm daily, but he failed to do so one occasion, and said the money had gone on gambling debts. He was remanded for sentence to September 24.