PAK-A-POO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14632, 18 September 1909, Page 2

PAK-A-POO

TWO CHINESE FINED. {Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 15. Two Chinese named Joe Lun, alias Joe Lim, and Wong Lee, alias Yen Lee, were charged in the Magistrate's Court to-day before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., with selling pak-a-poo ticketb. There were two informations against each accused, who pleaded " Guilty." On the application of Sub-inspector Norwood one allegation against each accused was withdrawn. He said that both men had been convicted before— Wong Lee for disposing of pak-a-poo tickets and Joe Lim for being concerned in a gambling saloon. There was also a conviction against the former for having opium in his possession.

Mr Herdmau urged that the offence to which accused had pleaded " Guilty " wag harmless ffom a moral point of view. Accused had sold 6d pak-a-poo tickets, for which tliey received a commission of one penny on each ticket sold. They had been engaged at honest employment either as cooks or as laundry' men. Counsel asked that a small fine be inflicted in the interests of justice. He contended that accused should bo dealt with leniently and a fine imposed, which would not render it necessary for tliem to go to gaol. In the cases of liiiropeans who had been proved guilty of playing two-up, small penalties had bebn made, being as light in some instances as £2. Counsel aleo reminded the Court, of a case in which a fine of £5 was not long ago inflicted on a man who had attempted to inaugurate a Tattersall's sweep. There was proof thatthere was a decrease in gambling amongst Chinese. While European gambling was spread all over the Dominion, the aliens confined their pak-a-poo to their own establishments. Mr Riddell stated that accused were liable to a maximum fine of £200 or imprisonment for a second offence for a term not exceeding six months. They must know by indulging in the game of chance the risk they ran. He doubted if he would eerve any good purpose if he tried to distinguish between pak-a-poo, twoup, etc. Each accuscd must be convicted and fined £25, with | costs £1 Bs. The penalty for defauit was fixed at one month's imprisonment