SYSTEM OF BELLS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 131, 1 December 1930, Page 11

SYSTEM OF BELLS

POLICE DEDUCTIONS

BOOKMAKING IN HOTEL

"The Licensing Committee takes tho view that it is improper for a licensee to tolerate on the premises the carrying on of bookmaking, which is an unlawful calling," said the chairman (Mr. E. Page, S.M.), at 'the quarterly meeting of the Wellington Licensing Committee to-day.. Mr. Page read a report presented to the committee , by Inspector Rawle, stating that last month a man named Leney was arrested in the New Zealander Hotel and charged with carrying on the business of a bookmaker. The report stated that on eleven days he was known to be betting in the public bar of the hotel. When the police entered the bar, bells were rung from various bars and immediately they commenced to ring Leney left his position in the public bar and went into the passage. When interviewed on the subject of bookmakers and the bells, the licensee, Mrs. Brough, said she did not know that Leney had been using the bar for betting purposes, and that the bells were for the convenience of persons who were serving, requiring assistance, or requiring change iri the bars. AFTER HOURS TRADING. It was suspected that after-hours trading was being carried on, and on Friday, .14th November, shortly after 9 p.m., there were found on the premises eleven persons who could not satisfactorily account for their presence there. Three of them also gave wrong addresses. "I submit," said Inspector Eawle in the report, "that it is the duty of every licensee to govern the premises and have a reasonable knowledge of what transpires. In the present . instance no satisfactory answer was given by the licensee relative to Leney's operations, -and the presence of the system of bells gives, rise to a suspicion that they are to warn those' inside of the approach of the police." Mr. Page said that the report was altogether unfavourable. Mr. W. Perry, who represented the licensee of the hotel, said he strenuously objected to the tone of the report. Dealing with the question of the bells, Mr. Perry said that the system in the hotel was no different from that used in any other residential hotel. The system was in existence long before the present licensee took over the ,hqtel. A placard showing the parts of the hotel where the'bells operated was produced by Mr. Perry. That placard was' . placed in a conspicuous place in the hotel. "It is not a system of bells with any sinister meaning," said Mr. Perry. "I am personally so satisfied that this is the ordinary system that I am prepared to let any one of the committee inspect it themselves." The system used was simply for communication purposes in the hotel, and there was nothing wrong in it. ■ Senior-Sergeant Edwards gave evidence as to the finding of the eleven men in the hotel, and also as to an interview he had with the licensee regarding the bookmaker being present on clays, and'the system of .bells. Questioned by Mr. Perry, Sergeant Edwards said that it was not the system of bells complained about, but the way in which the system was abused, especially by the man at the front door. In: answer to a question, Sergeant Edwards said that when he entered the .hotel there were eleven men in the lounge, but he personaly saw no. signs •of liquor. - - - - i " , :: ' • ■ Mr. Pern-said that there had only been one conviction against the licensee in fifteen years' experience. ■ Mr. Page said the committee took the view that it was/improper for a licensee to tolerate bookmaking on' the premises, and if it was knowingly tolerated the hotel was not properly ' conducted. The question of the bells might be a matter to which there was an answer. Dealing with after-hours' trading, Mr. Page said-that the presence of a, substantial number of people on the premises lent, itself to the suspicion that there was illicit after-hours trad-' ing. |