PROSECUTION OF BOOKMAKERS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 17 December 1913, Page 5

PROSECUTION OF BOOKMAKERS

BY TKLEGKAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, Dec. 16. A minimum fine of £20 does not seem to have any effect upon bookie 11? all," said Chief Detective McMahon, at the Police Court in a case against John Benjamin. Benjamin had pleaded guilty to a charge of navmg made bets on the Takapuna racecourse on November 29. "They still go on," he continued, "and men have to be employed specially to watch them."

Mr.Frazer, S.M., said that the minimum fine of £20 was imposed upon the "small" men; the maximum was intended for the "big" men. "If the penalty does not have the effect intended," he added, "it will have to be increased. In this case, however, where defendant is earning a small wage and has family responsibilities, it would be hard to single him out as the defendant on whom to start increasing the fine, and the minimum of £20 will be imposed. If the minimum does not stop bookmakers betting, it will have to be increased to £50 or thereabouts."