BOOKMAKERS IN HOTELS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 438, 2 December 1930, Page 7

BOOKMAKERS IN HOTELS

LICENSING COMMITTEE VIEW IMPROPER CONDUCT IN HOUSES [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. “The licensing committee take the view that it is improper for a licensee to tolerate on the premises the carrying on of bookmaking, which is an unlawful calling,” said tho chairman, Mr Page, S.M., at the quarterly meeting of the Wellington Licensing Committee. Mr Page road a report presented to the committee by Inspector Rawlc, stating that last month a man named Loney was arrested in the New Zealander Hotel and charged with carrying on the business of a bookmaker. The report stated that on eleven days he was known to be betting in the publicbar of the hotel. When the police entered, bar bells were rung from various bars, and immediately they commenced to ring Loney left his position in the public bar and went into the passage When interviewed on the subject of bookmakers ami bells, the licensee, Mrs Brough, said she did not know Leney had been using the bar for betting purposes, and the bells were for the convenience of the persons who were serving, requiring assistance or requiring change in tho bars. Mr W. Perry, who represented th. licensee, said he strenuously objected to the tone of the report. Dealing with the question of the bells, Mr Perry said the system in the hotel was no different from that used in any other residential hotel. The system was in existence long before the present licensee took over the hotel. A placard showing the parts of tho hotel where the bells operated was produced by Mr Perry, who said that the placard was placed in a conspicuous place in the hotel- “It is not a system of bells with any sinister meaning,” said Mr PerryMr Pago said the committee took the view that it was improper for a licensee to tolerate bookmaking on the premises and if it were knowingly tolerated the hotel was not properly conductedTho question of the bells might be a matter to which there was an answer.

Dealing with suggestions of afterhours trading, Mr Page said the presence of a substantial number of people. on the premises lent itself to the suspicion that there was illicit afterhour trading.