ARRESTED CHINESE

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 July 1933, Page 5

ARRESTED CHINESE

INTERPRETER REFUSES TO ACT POLICE ALLEGE THREATS [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, July 18. During the hearing of gaming charges against 27 Chinese, yesterday, an unusual development occurred, when Magistrate Mosley announced he was not satisfied with the interpreter, Percy Chew Lee, and another interpreter would have to be secured. He therefore adjourned the case. When the hearing was resumed this

morning, the new interpreter, W. .Wall, a Canterbury College student, said frankly: I would rather go to prison than interpret on this occasion. Senior-Sergeant Fox said it had come to his knowledge that the Chinese concerned in the case had shown hostility to a number of their own countrymen, apparently because of the erroneous idea that they had given information to the police. There had actually been a-threat of violence. That was rather an ugly attitude to take up. The Magistrate, addressing thp accused: “You can take it from me, any threat from a European or Chinese will reap its consequences. The British law which grinds slowly will grind that person. Wah was still unwilling to act. as interpreter. He denied there had been hostility shown to him. There were circumstances he did not wish to disclose. It was not. fear. Wah added that Chew Lee was a competent, interpreter. The Magistrate: I was not satisfied with him yesterday. The case proceeded, while an enendeavour was made to secure another interpreter. Another interpreter, Chan, was secured, and Wah was released from duty. The hearing then proceeded normally.

The principal accused, Yee Kwong, 63, gardener, was charged with permitting premises in Madras Street, to be used as a gaming house, and with having prepared opium in his possession. Ah Sang, 64, gardener, was charged with assisting Kwong. Twenty-five other Chinese were charged with being found without lawful excuse at a gaming housee. To-day, Kwong denied that people coming to the house paid him anything to play fan tan oi’ dominoes. He did not know that fan tan was illegal in New Zealand. Another Chinese said the place was merely a club for which subscriptions were paid. 1 (Proceeding).