BOOKMAKING FINES
"MAN BEHIND SCENES"
MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT
"One is irresistibly forced to the conclusion that this type of bookmaking is a very profitable business, and that the fines are paid by the man behind the scenes," said Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., in the Petone Court today, when Archibald More Merrilees pleaded guilty to a charge of keeping a common gaming-house.
Detective-Sergeant F. N. Robinson said that the defendant carried on the ■business of a hairdresser and tobacconist in Petone. The premises were searched, and betting material was found, indicating that bets totalling £78 had been taken over the Easter period. The bets had been taken on meetings at Auckland, Hawera, Wairarapa, Riccarton, Riverton, and Feilding. Last November he had been fined for a similar offence.
Mr. E.F. Rothwell, for the defend.ant, said that the public apparently expected to receive bookmaking facilities from tobacconists, and so tobacconists were tempted to break the law in this respect. Easter Saturday was the biggest racing day in the whole of the year, with the possible exception of New Year's Day. He had advised the defendant last time to stop the taking of bets, but apparently the defendant had not been prepared to risk the loss of legitimate business that would result.
No doubt, particularly as this prosecution followed so closely on the heels of the last, the defendant realised that the price he was paying was too high. Bookmaking was only a sideline to the defendant's regular business. It was always the small man who came before the Court, though in many cases the name of the man behind the scenes was known.
The Magistrate said that the police could not very well be criticised for enforcing the provisions of the Act. In this case, the defendant had certainly appeared twice on similar charges. Where this was the case, the Magistrate was prepared to consider a prison sentence in future.
A fine of £25 was imposed, and fourteen days was allowed in which to pay.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19390419.2.98
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 91, 19 April 1939, Page 11
Word Count
332BOOKMAKING FINES Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 91, 19 April 1939, Page 11
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