GAMING DEN RAIDS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXV, Issue 13027, 27 November 1936, Page 6

GAMING DEN RAIDS

HAULS MADE BY 20 DEFECTIVES VINES RANGE FROM £1 TO £IOO (Pie ss Association). AUCKLAND, Nov. 26. A further episode arising out of the recent simultaneous raid by 20 detectives on 11 Chinese gaming houses in the city was the ’appearance in the Police Court to-dav of 12 Chinese charged with using premises as common gaming houses. One Chinese and one European were charged with assisting, and one Chinese and three Europeans were charged with having been found on Die premises. Twenty Europeans were dealt with last week on similar charges. To-day fines ranging from £1 to £IOO Avero imposed, making ai total of £340. One case is still being defended. Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn sa’d that of 20 men found on the premises, 19 Avere on sustenance. When the banks Avere being drawn, large numbers of unemployed could be seen aivait.ing the results. The betting shops opened on to the streets Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., a' d that gaming houses A'.’ore a serious menace to the community and the fact that they iveire patronised almost -wholly by men on sustenance made the evil all the greater, for man in straitened circumstances were •lured to part Avith their small pittances.. In one ease a Chinese was stated to have received one penny commission on each ticket sold. The magistrate asked the police if they kne-AV Avho paid the money. .Detect ove-Sergt. Meiklejohn : “I’ve tried to find out Avho is behind it, but when one inquires one is told “Boss lie gone Chinan” or “Boss he gone Sydney”. There seem to be more 'financial men behind the busl- - than those Avho appear in the court.”