OPIUM DEN RAID.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21232, 12 July 1932, Page 13

OPIUM DEN RAID.

THIRTEEN CHINESE CHARGED.

FINE OF £l5O ON OCCUPIER.

OTHERS TO PAY £l2 10s EACH.

A raid made by the police on a building in Grey's Avenue on Saturday evening resulted in the appearance of the occupier, Ah Hing, aged 39, and 12 other Chinese in the Police Court yesterday. Ah Hing was charged with permitting tho smoking of' opium on premises at 55, Grey's Avenue, and the other accused were jointly charged with being found without lawful excuse in a building used for the smoking of opium. All pleaded guilty i,

Detective-Sergeant Kelly said members of the raiding party, led by DetectiveSergeant McHugh, gained entrance to the building by climbing on to the roof and lowering themselves through a skylight to the beams above the ceiling. Guided by the sound of voices below, they forced a board in the ceiling and dropped into a room occupied by the 13 accused. Stampede lor the Doors.

The smell of opium in the room was stifling, and most of tho Chinese were more or less stupid, continued Mr. Kelly. A stampede for the doors ensued, but the accused were blocked by the police. A large quantity of prepared opium, together with pipes, opium lamps and \ other material, was found in the room. There were also several small packets of opium, each labelled ss, which could be purchased and taken away by smokers. Although the building was only about 10Q yards from the Town Hall it was in a filthy and insanitary condition, and there were signs of fire having broken out ia parts of the room. The building was undoubtedly one of the largest opium dens in New Zealand. In asking for leniency counsel said prejudice had to bo set aside. The repressive legislation in forco in New Zealand was prompted by the fear that Europeans would develop the habit of opium smoking. The substantial penalties prescribed by law were ineffective, as everyone knew that the Chinese would continue to smoke opium. There was no suggestion that Ah Hing's house had been frequented by Europeans or women. Ah Hing had lived in the Dominion for 12 years. Most of the other accused were unemployed and could not pay heavy fines.

A Profitable Business. " It is of no use criticising the legislation," remarked the magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean. " The legislation is there and it must bo complied with. It appears that Ah Hing is quite determined to ignore the law of this country and ho must be punished. He was fined in 1928 and again in 1929 and 1931, yethe has carried on. 1 assume his business is quite a profitable one. It js probably true, as counsel says, that this is one of the evils we cannot suppress —the Chinese will go on smoking opium. Ah Hing is liable to a fine of £2OO or imprisonment for three months, or both. I suppose he has no occupation other than that of keeper of an qpium den." " I think that is so, sir," agreed Mr. Kelly. " The place is ' fortified ' for the purpose of an opium den." Counsel for the Defence: The 4 fortifications ' keep the Europeans out. > Mr. McKean: To an extent, but some get in occasionally. Ah Hing was fined £l5O, in default three montlis' imprisonment, and the following other accused were each fined £l2 10s, the minimum amount prescribed by law':—Wong Yem, aged 30, Ah Low Louie, 32, Ah Chong, 36, Hi Lee, 55, Doo Foo, 26, Long Tin, 36, Ah Loong 35, Yueng Gin, 24, Ah Gin, 52, Loo Do, 50, Ah Shim, 35, and Shun Lnm, 30- In each case default was fixed at one month s imprisonment. A week was allowed in which to make payment of the fines.