OVER THE BORDER.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18778, 28 October 1932, Page 4

OVER THE BORDER.

AT AGUA CALIENTE. N.Z. SPORTMEN’B VIBIT. Horse racing, open gambling, and liquor being prohibited by the State laws, American capitalists conceiveil the idea of crossing over the Californian border into Mexico, and there providing for the freedom of action and indulgence debarred by their own country, much to the advantage of the investors and the Mexican Government. Two places, whloh have been created by America just over the border are Agua Caliente and Tua Juana, which are over a hundred miles from Los Angeles, roughly a five-hour drive in a motor car. Both places were visited by the managers of the New Zealand and Australian Olympic teams, Messrs P. Rundle and Eve, during their visit to California. They were accompanied by Mr T. W. Leslie, the official starter, of Wellington, who gives a picture of these Mexican resorts. Luxurious Swimming Pool. “Agua Caliente," Said Mr Leslie, “is simply one great big beautiful hotel, with the very latest modern appointments built to suit the climate. It stands in lovely grounds, and has the most wonderful swimming, pool. People in New Zealand may not understand the luxury that exists in these wonderful swimming pools. In' the first place, the temperatures range up to 100 in the shade, and for nine months in the year the, place is exposed to the radiant heat of the desert country all round. So bathing and swimming in fresh water pools becomes a luxury, and endless money is spent on them. “Quite near to the hotel is the racecourse, which is kept in good order, though I would not compare it to Trentham or Ellerslie. Otherwise there Is no town or residence at Agua Caliente. * Just about a mile and a half away from the racecourse, however, is the town of Tua Juana,” continued Mr Leslie. “Here you are able to see a pretty free sort of life which Is sometimes shown on the pictures. Tua Juana is a town about 200 yards In length, lined on either side by saloons, not very pretentious in character. These saloons' pretty well follow the one lay-out. There are. drinking bars on each side, and down the centre of these long rooms are the,, means, to gamble—roulette, cards, dice, anything you like—and at the end is a stage for dancing and vaudeville turns. “Here you can get any kind of drink you like to pay for," said.. Mr Leslie, “but you must not take any back with you over the border into Calfornla. Every car is diligently j searched by Customs and police officials. They won’t even allow a drunken man to enter the State. If there are people under suspicion of being intoxicated they are made to walk a straight line and are submitted to other tests. If found to be drunk, they are detained. Slightly drunken people are walked vigorously up and down until they are jolted and exercised into something approaching sobriety. - “That there are venturesome people who do try to beat the law was evident,” said Mr Leslie. “A Black Marla is always- kept at the border for teh reception of police oases. 'When we came through a woman was sitting on the steps of the wagon crying because her man bad. been arrested for some offence and was In the Marla."