FLOUTING THE LAW

Evening Star, Issue 22974, 3 June 1938, Page 8

FLOUTING THE LAW

INCITEMENT TO ADOLESCENT CRIME PART BOOKMAKERS' IMPUNITY PLAYS [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 3. Dealing with a bookmaking charge to-day, Mr Lnxford, S.M., said that the open flouting of the gaming laws had probably as much to do with the increase of adolescent crime as anything in New Zealand. Young people saw such a serious offence as bookmaking carried on with impunity, and they came to think it clever to flout the law. Tho defendant was Ralph Ellis Thompson (58), a barman, who pleaded guilty. “ Probably the courts have not done their duty,” said Mr Luxford, “ and fines have been imposed year after year which have' been nothing more than license fees to bookmakers. I do not propose suddenly to change what has been almost an established practice in inflicting fines in these cases.” A fine was imposed of £2O and costs. ' It was stated that there was no evidence that defendant had been betting in anything but a small way, and no evidence that he had been betting for a lengthy period. Eight years ago he was a bookmaker, and was heavily fined, but afterwards, said counsel, he had lived within the law.