Magistrate’s Attitude To Bookmaker Who Wanted Time To Pay Fine

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 November 1950, Page 6

Magistrate’s Attitude To Bookmaker Who Wanted Time To Pay Fine

“11l health is no justification for anyone living outside the law,” commented Mr S. S. Preston, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui, yesterday, when imposing a fine of £l5O, with costs 10s, on John Gordon Pask, labourer, aged 48, who had ad'mitted a charge of bookmaking. “You have been convicted twice before and dealt with rather leniently, being fined £25 the first time and £4O on the second occasion,” the magistrate added. “Apparently, pou have been carrying on for a long time.”

Mr W. M. Willis, for defendant, asked time in which to pay the fine. The magistrate: That is a fairly old story for a bookmaker. Don’t tell me that this man has been carrying on since 1946 and wants time to pay a fine of £l5O. That is not right, is it? Defendant.: Yes, sir. The magistrate: I have seen this put across before. If defendant would produce his bank book, his application for time to pay would be considered, the magistrate added. Outlining the circumstances of the case, the police prosecutor said that for some time defendant had occupied an office in Victoria Avenue which he used for the purpose of bookmaking. The police called there on Saturday with a search warrant and found records which showed that a total of £69 had been taken in bets. Another bet came through by telephone while the police were there. Defendant was convicted for bookmaking in 1946, and for keeping a common gaming house in 1948, also in connection with bookmaking. The telephone in his office was not under his own name. Mr Willis submitted that while serving overseas during World War 11, defendant contracted asthma. This complaint persisted and prevented him from following his usual occupation as a labourer. “There were five race meetings on Saturday and the amount of betting was not very large considering the number of meetings,” said counsel.