Manawatu Daily Times FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1923. BOOKMAKERS, BEWARE!

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2649, 18 May 1923, Page 4

Manawatu Daily Times FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1923. BOOKMAKERS, BEWARE!

I One outspoken Auckland magistrate has declared war to the knife on the bookmaker. Mr J. W. Poynton, .S.M., is usually a mild and philosophic dispenser of justice, and when he uses strong language it takes on added emphasis. “Bookmakers,’ he said in the course of his judgment in a betting case in the Auckland Police Court early in the week, "are doing a lot' of harm in our small community. The country is verminous with these parasites. One does not know whether to pity or despise the fools who arc victimised by them. The worst feature Of their vampirism is the number of young sillies who think themselves smart in betting with them. We have : had several cases in this Court re-, cently where youths who, when, charged with stealing from their employers, admitted that the thefts were committed in order to bet onj racehorses." Continuing, the Magis-i trate said ho considered that, to say that this vile business was carried on only in a small way by an accused person, was not convincing. It was not his fault that it was not bigger. He would have it big if he could. Fines sometimes encouraged wrong-doing. In offences like sly grog-selling, keeping brothels or gaming houses, fines only stimulated to greater exertions in getting in enough money to pay them. When a business was being made of law-breaking, and fines were paid as irregular license fees, a term of imprisonment should be imposed instead of fines. Out- Gaming Act had been more than forty years in existence, and fines had not effected a suppression of the gaming vice. It was surprising how bookmakers readily found cash to pay up. “Owing to the ease of getting money to escape imprisonment, and partly to the failure of juries to do their duty in many cases,” concluded Mr Poynton, “these pests appear to have become emboldened recently, and their increasing numbers are a menace to society. In future, unless in very exceptional cirstances, imprisonment without the option of a fine, will bo imposed, wherever the offence allows this."