GOOD TIMES AHEAD—FOR LAWYERS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1626, 29 April 1903, Page 59

GOOD TIMES AHEAD—FOR LAWYERS

(From Oui - Special Corresqicndent.) LONDON, March 6. Tiio legal fraternity _ had a rare gccd time a lew' years age in connection with betting in tiro rings at racecourses. I J lO . question to be decided was whether the lines were “places " within the meaning of tho .Acts relating to gambling, -the Anti-Gambling League, iieaued by L he redoubtable John Hawke, argued that they were and an array of bookmakers briefed eminent counsel to prove that ‘lie rings wore not ‘'places/ - ’ Arid alter a loin? trial, costing thousands, it was decided that the rings were not places within the meaning of rhe -vet.” Prior to the big trial hundreds had been spent in the lower Courts by the in prosecuting individual bookies, and taken altogether the solution of the conundrum ■““When is a place not a place ?” was a process infinitely profitable to the lawyers. If Mr Hawke takes a hint given by Mr Justice Darling the other day the wearers of wig and gown are likely to have another glorious spell. The hint was given in this way. The Judge was trying a case in which tlio plaintiff sought to recover from tho defendant sums alleged to be due for bets. The defendant’s manager shielded his firm under the Gaining Acts end was successful. But, said Mr Justice Bailing to him, you will probably make the acquaintance of Mr Hawke. “I am not afraid/’ replied the manager. The law has terrors only for those who do not respect it, and this gentleman respects it very carefully. He has an office, and lie does a betting business. _ But no betting is allowed to be done in the 1 office; that would be “resorting to a place/’ Business is done by telegram or telephone “■out of respect for the law'/’ Obviously a. long vista is here opened up. Is it to resort to an. office to go to a telephone and. sneak through it to someone in that office? There will bo some fat fees for the lawyers before that question is settled. Anct by the time that is done a rew r point will have arisen. There will be turf commission agents who, out of respect for the law', do business by Marconiemams only. Will it be possible to make ont that to send a wireless messii"o through space is to resort to th e office of the receiver thereof? Tho Dw mav not be a “ha,ss.” but it certeinlv fails to show' intelligent 'anticipation of wlmt science and “Te-neet’’ for itself in combination may be able to achieve.