CHINESE FINED £6O

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 12

CHINESE FINED £6O

' PAKAPOO DEN RAIDED "A VERY LARGE BUSINESS" FIVE EUROPEANS CONVICTED A Chinese, Wong Lok, aged 55, and five Europeans were arrested on gaming charges as a result of a visit yesterday by Detectives Moore and Brady and Constable lloss to premises at no Grey's Avenue. They appeared in the Police Court later before Mr. W. 11. McKean, S.M. Wong Lok, who was represented by Mr. Sullivan, pleaded guilty to a charge of keeping the premises as a common gaming house. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said ihe premises wero raided because of the large number of complaints received by the police about pakapoo dens in Auckland. "The material found shows there has been a very large business indeed in these premises, Mi. McHugh stated. "Tho penalties inflicted up to tho present do not seem to have acted as a deterrent to those who conduct pakapoo 'banks.' This place was one of tho largest in Auckland." .Air. Sullivan said his client had not previously been in Court for any offence, and his present position was due solely to the economic depression. Wong Lok once had three fruit shops in Auckland, but he was now almost destitute Chinese were not eligible for relief work, and Wong Lok had really been forced to conduct pakapoo. Counsel suggested that leniency should bo shown. In s|)ito of what the police t,aid, the business was not a large one. Mr. McHugh: Tho police can call evidence to show that it is a big busi-

ncss. All these pakapoo dens are supported a "bank," which consists of a large number oi : men well able to pay the fines imposed on the men brought beforo the Court. "Wong Lok is not the 'bank,' " counsel stated. "He comes here as a first offender."

The magistrate said it seemed almost impossible to stop pakapoo offences. Accused was fined £GO, in default three months' imprisonment, and was allowed 14 days in which to make payment. "There will be 110 difficulty about paying the fine," said Mr. McHugh. "The syndicate behind the 'bank' can always pay." Benjamin Gibson, aged 41, Ebenezer Gladstone Robb, aged 4G, William sham, aged 47, Ennis Thomas O'Sullivan, aged 34, and Harold Cuthbert Penk, aged 45, who were stated to bo relief workers, pleaded guilty to a cliarge of being unlawfully on the premises. After reviewing the circumstances of the accused, and their iamily responsibilities, the magistrate said he woidd take a course ho had not done beforo in convicting and discharging them. An assurance was given the Court that the men Mould not be on pakapoo premises again.