FINES NO CHECK

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 14, 17 July 1934, Page 9

FINES NO CHECK

BOOKMAKING OFFENCES

TWO MEN SENT TO GAOL

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day

Two well-known bookmakers, Francis Brewer and Thomas Curran, were sentenced today by Mr. Wyvern AVilson, S.M., to one month's imprisonment each for occupying promises used as a common gaming-house.

Tho prosecutor said that Brewer's books showed that ho took 56G doubles for the first day of tho Wellington races.

After listening to a strong appeal by Brewer's counsel, who described him as an honest, generous man of high reputation, and denounced (lie law relating to bookmaking1, tho Magistrate said that Brewer had boon (mod £100 in 1927, 1929, and 1930, nnd £75 in 1D32. His books showed that ho continued business just tho smno immediately after the last fine.

'<Now, what is tho position?" Mi". Wilson asked. "Is tho law to bo onforced? Does a man huvo to pay £100 every year or so and koop on keeping gaming-houses? That is not tho law. I am asked still to go on fining him becauso ho is an honest, friendly, kindly man. If I do that ho simply keeps on breaking tho law. That kind of conduct cannot bo tolorated. Fines don't even check this sort of thing. I am here to see that the law is enforced. It will havo to be n. term of imprisonment in this case."

In Cui'rnu's enso the police said that lie had taken 590 doubles on the Wellington races. Ho had been fined £500, including £.200, within. four months last year.

The Magistrate said it would be only an idle pretonce to continito fining him.