TOLD TO DESIST

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 10, 11 July 1930, Page 10

TOLD TO DESIST

CHANCE OF FREE RIDE TAXI-CAB LOTTERY (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") AUCKLAND, This Day. William Murray Theodore, Eaymoml Lewis, and Prank Harvey wore convicted and ordered to pay costs only on a chargo that thoy commenced a lottery'by false pretences by which free rides in taxis were gained by a mode of chance, a device consisting of arrows painted on the wheels of cabs and dots on the mudguards. The police said that the men were connected with the Chess Taxi-cab Company, and in order to obtain extra business they propounded a scheme which the police considered to bo a lottery. A white arrow was painted on the wheel and a dot on the mudguard. If after the ride finished and the enr stopped the arrow pointed to the dot the passenger was not charged for the ride. Detectives had taken two rides, but each time were charged, and the drivers had admitted t.hat they had never been caught for a free ride. Tho company admitted, however, that the innovation had increased business.

Counsel maintained that the idea was purely an advertising one to popularise tho cabs. Ho maintained that when a man called a taxi he intended to pay. He did not call one to get a free ride. The public were not invited to participate.

The Chief Detective: "Yes, they were, the scheme was advertised iii the newspapers."

The Magistrate (Mr. V. K. Hunt): "I am of opinion that it is a lottery, but it is not serious. The practice must, however, be discontinued.''