A POLICE COMPLAINT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 June 1925, Page 4

A POLICE COMPLAINT.

REPUTED BOOKAIAKEIIS. FREQUENTING HAWERA HOTELS. A complaint that .reputed bookmakers were frequenting hotels, more particularly Hawera hotels, was made at the annual meeting of the Pa-teu Licensing Committee yesterday by Sergeant Henry. The sergeant said that these reputed bookmakers used the hotel telephones, ana on race days one saw betting men going in and out of licensed premises. Also, before race days, reputed bookmakers canvassed the town, using the hotels as convenient places in which to take bets. The matter had been mentioned at the Licensing Committee meetings at Eltham and New Plymouth, so that apparently the same state of affairs existed in those towns. Sergeant Henry said that he had warned the Hawera licensees concerned. Air Barton, S.AI: Has there been any result from your warning? Sergeant Henry: At least one hotel keeper has taken notice, hut- the practice still exists in some of the other hotels. ■

Air Barton, S.AI.. said that the licensing bench was unanimous in declaring the practice improper, and members agreed that the licensee who permitted such a thing had ,an incorrect sense of his responsibilities. The Bench suggested that if the trouble continued the police should refer to it in their quarterly ireport, and evidence could then be taken in connection with the matter. , Sergt. Henry referred to a ease in Haihilton where objection Was taken to the granting of a license on the grounds that the hotel was freqneirted by reputed bookmakers. Air Barton said that a provision in the Gaming Act would. deal' with the matter, but that, of course, was not for the Licensing Committee to consider. The host plan would he for the police to refer to it in their quarterly report, and then any evidence could be taken into consideration in dealing with applications for renewals of hotel licenses. The Bench certainly agreed that for a licensee to allow such a thing constituted improper conduct of 'the hotel. ■