THE "RABBIT GAME"

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1927, Page 11

THE "RABBIT GAME"

IS IT ONE OF SKILL? j SHOWMAN BEFORE THE COUBT Is the "rabbit game," which has been played by hundreds of people at the Winter Show, a game of skill, or are _ the scales weighed unequally against the various competitors, and very much in favour of the proprietors? Upon the answer to this question depends the conviction or otherwise of a number of showmen who were charged in the Magistrate 's Court to-day with having assisted to conduct common gaming houses at shed 45 on the Thorndon Wharf, and at shed 29 on the King's Wharf, two buildings that are at present being used by the Wellington Winter Show Association. Leslie Herbert, George Pitcher, James Souness, and Basil Henry Fleming were the defendants in connection with the booth on the former wharf, and David Victor M'Corkindale, Roland M'Kinley, and Arthur Bell with the booth on the King's Wharf. Jessee M'Corkindale, showman, of Auckland, was also charged with having conducted the stalls as common gaming houses, but his case was adjourned for a week to enable him to come to Wellington' to defend the action.

Mr. E. Page, S.M., was on the Bench, and Chief-Detective "Ward prosecuted. Mr. A M. Cousins appeared for all the defendants except Bell, for -whom Mr. J. S. Hanna watched the proceedings. The "rabbit game" is a mechanical device operated by electricity There are twelve small tin imitation rabbits, each of which is attached to an endless chain. These move up a boarded slope in a groove, being i>ropelled by means of a rubber ball which each competitor endeavours to jerk with a lever into a box.

The chief detective said that Jesse M'Corkindale had paid £175 for the privilege of using the space in the two sheds. Twelve competitors took part in every game, paying 6d each to enter. The prize, a box of chocolates, was worth about Is 9fi. "We claim that it is a game of chance; that it ia not equally favourable to all, including the managers; that it encourages gambling, and that it is a menace to public morals," he added. Colonel G. Mitchell, secretary of the Wellington Winter Show Association, gave evidence as to the rental paid for the space in Shed 45. Thiß was, he said, much larger than was the case with other booths.

To Mr. Cousins: The Tabbit game was played at last year's show, and no complaint had then been made. The stall had always been well conducted.

To Mr. Hanna: He had seen nothing injurious to public morals in the game, otherwise it would not have been allowed to be played there.

Eobert Edmonds, secretary of the Wellington Manufacturers' Association, said he concurred with Colonel Mitchell's views. He had played the game, and considered it one of skill.

Detective W. Murray said that Detective Txieklebank and he visited Shed 29, on the King's Wharf, iv the afternoon and evening of the 20th. They took "part in the game and watched it in progress for some time. Adults of both sexes were x>laying, as well as youths and girls in their teens. The winner received a box of chocolates which had been valued at Is 6d. There was a noticeable difference in the levers, some being easier to operate than others, and the jumps made by the different rabbits were by no means equal. Witness asked M'Kinley whether, if one rabbit were winning all the time, he would make any adjustments, and M'Kinley replied: "Yes; it wouldn't do to havo one rabbit winning all the time. We would get no business." It was quite obvious/ added the detective, that the game was one of chance—there were so many inequalities. Corroborative evidence was given by Detective Tricklebank.

John Cotter, chief mechanic at the Wellington Telephone Exchange, said ho examined the machine and considered it "a very rough business altogether." The electrical circuits varied, and there were other defects which made the players' chances unequal. This concluded the case for the prosecution, and tho Court adjourned to inspect one of the machines.

In opening the case for the defence, Mr. Cousins said that the game had been played at the Dunedin Exhibition and elsewhere on subsequent occasions, but the police had not previously taken any action.

Leslie Herbert Georgo Pitcher, manager of the stall in No. 45 shed, said that many people played for the sake of the game alone, prizes being a secondary consideration. The sending of the ball into the trap properly was a matter of skill, and it was possible to regulate the length of the jump of the rabbit by the manner -in which this was done. To the Chief-Detective: Players taking part for the first time would certainly not have much chance. Mr. Cousins: "If you were to play cricket for the first time youia wouldn't have much chance either. Yet cricket is not a game of chance." (Proceeding.)