BREACHES OF GAMING ACT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 177, 12 July 1920, Page 5

BREACHES OF GAMING ACT

NAPIER NEWSPAPER FINED

At the Napier Police Court this ( morning, before Air. R. W. Dyer, S.M., Trevor Alorrin Geddis was charged that ho did publish in a newspaper, to wit the Napier Daily Telegraph: (1) On June 24th, 1920, a statement as to the investments on the totalisator from which the dividend might be calculated; (2) on June 24th, 1920, a, statement as to the dividend on the Fernhill Hack Hurdles; (’J) on June 28th same< as (1); (4) on June 28 th a statement as to the dividend paid on the June Steeplechase. Senior Sergeant Eales prosecuted, and Air. H. if. Lusk represented the defendant.

A plea of guilty was entered. The informations Nos. 2 and 4 were withdrawn. Senior Sergeant Eales said the information was ’aid under the Gaming Act, and the fine fixed did not exceed £2O. The races were held on a Wednesday and Saturday, and the following days the figures in each case were published. Air. Lusk’ said that this was really a prosecution against the Daily Telegraph Company. The figures were not written by a member of the staff, but were handed in by a gentleman interested in racing. This was the first charge against the paper and was against a custom that was observed all over New Zealand. The Government were apparently very modest about the results of betting on its own machine. Apparently the Purity League had got to work. He asked that the offence be treated as a technical one. Mr. Dyer said it was a bit of carelessness that such a thing had gone in. It was not a case for a heavy penalty. A fine of £5 in each case was inflicted, with costs totalling £1 19s sd.