Chinese Must Pay £300

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 83, 29 June 1927, Page 15

Chinese Must Pay £3OO

Another Grey Street Batch Fined

THE State's profit from Sunday’s raid on the Chinese gaming house at 51 Grey Street is £3OO.

The lessee of the premises, Fong Hung, and Ah Lee and Ah Wing, who assisted in the management of the house, were each fined JESO in the Police Court this morning. Seventeen Chinamen were each fined £2 for being on the premises.

Fong Hung pleaded not guilty to a charge of keeping a gaming-house, while Ah Lee and Ah Wing pleaded not guilty to charges of using the premises as a gaming-house. Mr. S. W. Tong appeared for Fong Hung and Ah Wing. AN UNLUCKY POLICEMAN Constable A. McD. Sutherland said he called at the house on five occasions between June 4 and June 26. Each time he purchased pak-a-poo tickets, but he never drew a prize. When he called on Sunday last there were 70 Chinamen in the house, and he heard money rattling in the room next to the one he was in. Ah Wing sold him the tickets each. time. Detective-Sergeant O'Brien said that the basement of the house was fitted up as a gambling saloon, and unlawful games, dominoes and mah-jongg, were being played there. When the police called some of the Chinamen rushed upstairs, but were caught later on. “REEKING WITH OPIUM” Detective White’s evidence was that when he had gone into the rooms they were reeking with opium smoke. Fong Hung had £99 4s in his possession at the time of the raid. Mr. Tong, in his plea for Fong Hung, said that the basement had been leased by him to Ah Lee, who

‘‘Little Games” Cost Big Money

, pleaded guilty. The first floor was a legitimate restaurant. “In the months of April, May and June his poultry bill has averaged £45 a week," said Mr. T ong. Continuing, he said that the top floor was used as a hoarding-house. Mr. Tong held that mah-jongg was not an unlawful game, as considerable skill was required to play it. Over £6O of the money in Fong’s possession had been deposited with him by other Chinese. The magistrate, Mr. McKean, intimated that he was going to convict. Chief-Detective Cummings then withdrew alternative charges against Fong Hung and Ah Wing. “The men just came to my place for a yarn and something to eat,” said Ah Lee. “I can’t stop them having a little game.” The magistrate: "I can make it expensive for those who encourage them.” THOSE WHO ESCAPED Seven men pleaded not guilty. Two were cooks at the restaurant. One was “very sick in bed." The chief-detective said he was lying on a bed with opium-smoking apparatus beside him. He may be before the court again. One man had gone to the house to buy buns. Three men, who denied having a taste for gamblihg, had gone to arrange a deal for a horse and cart.