GAMBLING AT PAKAPOO

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1933, Page 9

GAMBLING AT PAKAPOO

z PROSECUTION OF CHINESE

UNEMPLOYED LOSING MONEY.

WIVES COMPLAIN TO POLICE.

COMMENT BY THE MAGISTRATE.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Sept. 26.

“The worst feature of these pakapoo eases is that we have been receiving 'letters from the wives of relief workers complaining that their husbands have been losing money in these dens. Quite recently a boy of 15 was found in a pakapoo gambling house,” said Detec-tive-Sergeant O’Sullivan When prosecuting Louey Wong, aged 34, in the Police Court.

The police said the accused was an agent.

The magistrate, Mr. McKean: “These men always seem to be agents. Is it not possible to bring the principals to court?” ■

Detective-Sergeant O’Sullivan said it was very difficult. If one agent was caught another was put in his place. The magistrate said that pakapoo. dens were run by syndicates, and he had heard something of arrangements about fines. “If the Chinese would keep the game to: themselves we-would -have -no need to impose heavy penalties, but they do not.” He fined Wong £7O or .three months’ imprisonment, and refused him time to pay. Counsel for accused protested that an- * other magistrate the previous day had imposed a fine of £lO on a similar charge.