SMOKING OF OPIUM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 20, 20 December 1932, Page 9

SMOKING OF OPIUM.

CHARGES AT AUCKLAND. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Dec. 19. Twice within ten dnys a party or detectives have raided tho premises at 123 Grey Avenue and found a number of Chinese smoking opium. On the last occasion seven Chinese were fined, and to-day, following the raid yesterday afternoon, another eight appeared before Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Police Court, when their fines totalled £267. Wong Hum, a gardener, aged 44, who a week ago was fined £iUU, was again charged with allowing nis premises to be used for tho smoking of opium. He pleaded guilty. “His appearance indicates either that he intends to disregard tho law or that tho last penalty was not big enough,” said Mr McKean. Accused was fined £l5O, m default three months-’ imprisonment. Seven Chinese were charged with being unlawfully on the premises for the purpose of smoking opium. All pleaded guilty with the exception of one, tho charge against whom was dismissed. “They are only a lot of parasites and drug addicts,” said Detective-Ser-geant Kelly. “They were given time to pay last week, and here they are again. Most of them were before the Court last week.” Mr McKean: I didn’t recognise any of them. All- Kelly. They were in the same don as before. They had a lot of fresh material. It was the same keeper and tho place was going as strong as ever. Tho den is a hole of iniquity. Air AlcKean: I am surprised that they have appeared so soon again. 1 will have to double their fines. Finos ranging from £l2 10s to £25 were imposed.

SENTENCES AT WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON, Dec. 19.

Two months’ gaol and a line of £l5O was the sentence imposed in the Police Court yesterday upon the Chinese occupier of the heavily-barricaded opium don in Haining Street, which was ontered early on Sunday morning after a three hours’ struggle by Detective Ritchie and Acting-Detective Smith. The six Chinese who were found on the premises were each fined £l2 10s, tho minimum penalty. Air W. H. Wood - ward, S.AL, who heard the cases, said that the evidence of opium was perfectly convincing. “This is nefarious trade,” ho said, before sentencing the occupier. The charges against tho occupier, Jerry Ying, aged 31, were of permitting the premises to be used for opium smoking and of being in possession of prepared opium.