BETTING IN WHANGAREI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21359, 7 December 1932, Page 16

BETTING IN WHANGAREI

POLICE VISIT SHOP FINE OF £25 IMPOSED MAN TO BE MARRIED TO-DAY [BY TELEGRAM —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WIIAXOAREI. Tuesday Arising from ;i police raid on Saturday, Arthur Clark pleaded guilty in tlio Police Court this morning to a charge of keeping premises in Dank Street ns a common gaming hou.se. Detective-Sergeant Robertson said that accused had been in the shop since October. He had the shop decorated as a tobacconist's, but it was not used for that purpose, but for betting. When the warrant was executed on Saturday the police found very little betting material and the principal books necessary for betting were missing. The cards of a well-known Auckland establishment were found on the premises, showing that accused's business was a branch of that buiness. continued the de-tective-sergeant. Accused had not previously been before the Court.

Mr. R. K. Trimmer, for accused, said he was instructed to make the definite statement- that accused was not an agent for the name on the card and did not admit the name on the card was that ot a betting establishment-. Sinco accused had been in Whangarei he had been waiting for a favourable opportunity of purchasing the. necessary equipment to commence a hairdressing establishment, in time for the Christmas trade. In the meantime he fell into the trap of being agent for several bookmakers.

Counsel said lie hoped that the magistrate would not do anything to lessen accused's financial position, or do anything to interfere with his liberty, as to-morrow the clerk ol: the Court, in his position as registrar of "marriages, would enter accused's nan e in the marriage register. The magistrate, Mr. 0. X. Morris, said he had had fo deal with two or three bookmakers in the town during the past few vears and did not want to encourago other bookmakers to come there or act as agents for bookmakers. It was difficult, to know the volume of business being done by accused, as he apparently had not hud time to become properly established. "I regret he has come here to-day when ho is getting married to-morrow, and I will do nothing to interfere with lus liberty," continued the magistrate. If he is going to remain in the town 1 advise him to change his occupation.'" A fine of £25 was imposed, accused being allowed three months to pay, provided one-third was paid monthly. Percy Everett pleaded not guilty to a charge of being unlawfully on the premises. Detective-Sergeant Robertson said when the police entered the room Everett was sitting on a table and when asked what he was doing said he had brought samples of clothing to Clark in an endeavour to sell him a suit. • _ After hearing evidence, Mr. Morns mkl he was prepared to give Everett the benefit of the doubt.