POINTED COMMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23500, 14 May 1938, Page 19

POINTED COMMENT

CHINESE OPIUM SMOKERS BOTH MEN ON SUSTENANCE “BENEVOLENCE OF THE STATE” (Per United Press Association' WELLINGTON, May 13. Two Chinese, both on sustenance, Jay Gee, aged 55, and Jim Hong, aged 63, were each fined £25 today, in default two months’ imprisonment, for being found in possession of prepared opium. “ It comes as a rude shock,” said the magistrate, Mr J. H. Luxford. “ that men who are spending half-a-crown a day on opium smoking are receiving 21s a week out of the public funds. It is a matter which requires investigation. If the unemployment inspectors had inquired carefully into their affairs it seems incredible that these men, who have been convicted and heavily fined, could have been the subject of relief.” The men were found among a party that formed the subject of prosecutions yesterday following a raid in Haining street on the previous day. and both had opium on them.

Hong, who was fined £2O in March, denied being the one with a jar of opium on him. He indicated that he had just finished paying the March fine. He said his fines were paid by borrowing from relations. When the interpreter made this explanation there was a roar of laughter. • Asked about a fine in May of last year, the reply was that he had plenty of blood relations. The magistrate: Fortunately for him he has a benevolent State to subsidise him at the rate of 21s a week.

Evidence was given by Ngan Yen that he was the keeper of the house and that in the police raid he lost track of a jar. He had, however, denied yesterday that he was the keeper, and he now claimed to be in partnership with another man.