LOOPHOLLS IN LEGISLATION

NZ Truth, Issue 1079, 5 August 1926, Page 7

LOOPHOLLS IN LEGISLATION

License Bookmakers Or Bag Law-Breakers ! (From "Truth's" Wellington Rep.) "The administration of the Act under which this man is charged, may be unsatisfactory. . . . But although the Act may be unsatisfactory, the jury must not neglect their duty because of it." — The Chief Justice (Mr. Justice Skerrett). . CCWOU, gentlemen of the jury, may I have different views m regard; to the Act, and possibly some of you may think that bookmakers should be licensed. . . . But. nevertheless the Act as framed is very specific and you are bound by it. . . ." — Crown Prosecutor Macassey. "In this case, gentlemen, where a few paltry bets have been made .by this man m remote Featherston— nestling serenely at the foot of the Ttimutakas —

it .would seem that there is no. evidence m any larger place that would lead the police to believe that Lookmaking is 1 being continuously and systematically carried on under their very eyes. ... ~ "The question .for comment is how x far this particular legislation is being given effect. "I submit with great respect? that you must know and realize how infinitesimal this man's scale of 'business' (we say it was only a few private bets at most) was compared with some well-known men who are really m the bookmaking business."— Lawyer B. J. Dolan. ''-.■■',. The above extracts from the addresses m the Wellington Supreme Court last week, when a young man was charged with carrying on the business of bookmaker, are self-ex-planatory. ' • ' , Eyerybodyi knows how appallingly stupid the Act is m its loopholes and its general lopsidedness. The present Minister of Justice could very well hand out a wallop to the proper quarter and show himself willing to establish a precedent which his predecessors were apparently riot game to do. ' '.■'■'