OPIUM RAIDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22578, 17 November 1936, Page 14

OPIUM RAIDS

GREY'S AVENUE HOUSES OCCUPIERS IN COURT FINES OF £SO EACH "Unfortunately ho is a drug addict and not too well in health," said Mr. Dickson in tho Police Court yesterday, appealing to Mr. Wyvorn Wilson, S.M., for tho imposition of as small a fine as possible in a case in which a Chinese. Stanley Chin Homo, aged 46, was charged with permitting premises he occupied at 91 Grey's Avenue to bo used for the purpose of smoking opium. Accused admitted tho offence. Detective-Sergeant Mcikiejohn described a raid on the premises which he made with a party of detectives. A ladder was used to effect entrance through a window, while some of tho party entered the premises from tho back. Four men were found, as well as the accused, and they were seen throwing opium smoking apparatus on to a fire. Tho premises were simply a place for smoking opium. Mr. Dickson said that Chinese, being Chiiiese, were subject to constant raids by the police. If a white man smoked opium it would probably bo a different thing. It was like gambling. If you gambled in Grey's Avenue you were unfortunate, but if you gambled in a select club you would probably "get away with it." Accused was fined £SO, in default three months' imprisonment. "The accused admitted he was the boss when we carried out a raid," said Mr. Meiklejolin, when another Chinese, Lee On, aged 35 (Mr. Dyson), was charged with a similar offence in respect of premises at 51 Grey's Avenue. He was fined £SO, in default three months' imprisonment.