GAMBLING WITH FRUIT MACHINES.

Otaki Mail, 29 March 1939, Page 1

GAMBLING WITH FRUIT MACHINES.

PROPRIETOR OF AMUSEMENT PARLOUR IN COURT. MAGISTRATE ORDERS MACHINES TO BE DESTROYEP AUCKLAND, Armed with a search warrant detectives visited an amusement parlour known as "Sportsland" at Mission Bay on Saturday night and arrested the proprietor. Richard Adam James Nixon, on two charges under the Gaming Act. The officers seized three fruit machines.

When Nixon appeared in the Police Court before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., this morning the police stated that the operation of such gambling devices was becoming a public nuisance. The Magistrate ordered two of the machines to be forthwith destroyed and deferred consideration of the other until to-morrow morning. Nixon, for whom Mr. Steadman appeared, was charged that being the occupier of premises at Mission Bay known as "Sportsland" he used them as a common gaming house on .March 25 and on the same date with, being the occupier of a caravan situated at the same premises he used it as a common gaining house. In both cases accused pleaded guilty. It was stated by Detective-Sergeant Walsh who prosecuted that Nixon was the owner of an amusement parlour at Mission Bay. This contameu tiuout 50 table games, mostly of the pin table type. For long past complaints had been received by the police about fruit machines installed. These, of which there were three, were operated by placing a coin in the slot and manipulating a handle or a lever. "It is a well-known fact that the percentage is greatly in favour of the person operating and owning these machines," added Mr. Walsh. On Saturday the detectives found two fruit machines Installed in a caravan adjacent to the amusement parlour. The third fruit machine was operated on a different principle from the other two machines, but like the other two it was purely a game of chance. Detective-Sergeant Walsh added that as late as 1934 following a case which was contested it had been held that fruit machines were instruments of gaming. In one machine seized there was £7 10s and 10s in another. Under section 7 of the Gaming Act Mr. Walsh asked the Magistrate to make an order for the confiscation and destruction of the three machines mentioned. "There are many of these machines in use and we are continually receiving complaints about them," Mr. Walsh said. "Nixon is interested in i other machines in other premises. This offence is regarded by the police as aj serious one." i

Remarking that he know fruit machines "ore illegal, .Mr. Stcadmnn asked the Magistrate to differentiate between two fruit machines mid another operated on the principle of pin table. In this machine there was an clement of skill. Counsel asked the Magistrate to inspect it before making any order for its destruction. The two fruit machines had cost Nixon £75 to land and the third machine £9O. This more modern machine could be altered to operate as an ordinary penny in the slot machine similar to hundreds which were being played in Auckland. Nixon had only been operating the machines since Christmas and had always kept a check on the types of individuals who used them. His place was well conducted and this was the first time he had ever been prosecuted on such a charge. Mr. Orr Walker: I have no hesitation in ordering two of the fruit machines to be destroyed forthwith. That order [ now make. On one charge Nixon was fined £lO. .Mr. Orr Walker reserved his decision concerning the other machine. •'The matter can be gone into between yourself and the police and if the third machine can be made into an innocent machine I do not propose to order it to be destroyed," the Magistrate told Mr. Steadman.