ILLEGAL MACHINE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 386, 31 March 1932, Page 9

ILLEGAL MACHINE.

People Induced to Gamble for Prize. SMALL FINE IMPOSE®. Holding that the operation of an automatic mint vending machine was illegal because it induced peopte to gamble for a prize. Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., to-day fined Trevor Charles Watson, of 16, Railway Street, and Enos Victor William Crouch, of 6, "York Street, 10s and costs each. The defendants were charged w ith using a billiards room at 11, North Road, as a common gaming houi-e. Counsel entered a formal plea of guilty. The case came before the Court recently and the hearing was adjourned 1 pending the decision of Mr E. Page, S.M., in a similar case in Wellington. Mr Page’s decision was against the defendants in the Wellington case. Chief-Detective Carroll said that the machine was in Watson’s shop. Persons wishing to use the machine purchased discs for 3d each. Each time the machine was used a packet of mints was discharged, and there was always the chance of winning a prize in the form of discs which could either be used in the machine again or else exchanged for goods at the counter. The machine was placed on the clerk’s desk and Crouch demonstrated its use. He said that coupons were issued to encourage people to buy mints.

The chief-detective contended that the extra discs that could be won introduced the element of pure chance. Nobody could operate the machine and know what he or she might get.

Counsel said that the machine was permitted in various parts of the world and had been in New Zealand for twelve .months. The object of the machine was to sell mints automatically and to stimulate the sale of other merchandise by issuing coupons. In the Wellington case, the mints had been done away with by manipulating the machine. The chief-detective: That is not so. - Counsel submitted that the machine did not come under the Gaming Act. Detective-Sergeant O’Brien said that it was possible to win the equivalent of 5s with one disc. People were encouraged to invest and re-invest. The Magistrate said that in his opinion the question of chance predominated. The whole inducement was to get something for nothing, or very little. Although packets of mints were obtained by people who put 3d into the machine that was not the inducement, which really was the strong element of gambling. It was quite clear that any premises on which such a game was played was a common gaming house. “ There is a pernicious element about all these machines,” said the Magistrate. “ The spirit of gambling is rampant in the community. The defendants, however appear to be decent, honest men.” S ® EE E*] BE EE ® ® @ ® ® @3 E§ EE 111 ® S HI EfE S