GAMING OFFENCES

Waikato Times, Volume 196, Issue 22568, 23 March 1945, Page 2

GAMING OFFENCES

“TIME FOR FINES HAS PASSED” MAGISTRATE’S BLUNT WARNING (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Friday As a sequel to a police raid on a gaming school last night when 48 arrests were made William Edward Hart, aged 44, clerk, was charged before Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Police Court this morning with using premises occupied by him in Albert Street as a common gaining house. Cyril Michael Poole, aged 42, wharf labourer, was charged with assisting in the management of the house. Both pleaded guilty. The police stated that when the raid was made a big game of two-up was in progress. Such gaming schools seemed to be springing up all over the city. For the accused Mr Terry said there was no evidence of any social evil involved.

The magistrate expressed surprise at counsel’s suggestion that the offence was just part of the public’s gambling habits and that it was no more harmful than art unions and the totalisator. “This class of offence is not potential. It is a fact, and if left unchecked will assume serious proportions,” he said. “There have been a number of these cases recently, and future offenders, whether first or second, will receive a salutary punishment. The time for fines has passed.” Each man was sentenced to two months’ hard labour. Of the other men arrested those with previous convictions and those who did not appear were fined £5, in default ten days’ imprisonment, while first offenders in Court were fined £3, in default one week’s imprisonment.