CHINESE GAMING HOUSES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3558, 19 September 1916, Page 2

CHINESE GAMING HOUSES.

WELLINGTON, September 18. '. As a result of, a recent* raid on Chinese premises in Haining Street, in which pakapoo was being carried on, five Chinese were dealt with by Mr Reid, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day. They were each fined £50, in default one month's imprisonment. According to a statement by Inspector Hendry, there are 100 Chinese living on th£ lottery business in Wellington, and the privilege of allowing these aliens to remain in our midst costs us £30,000 a year. As many as 24 banks are drawn daily, and the operations are secret, bo that the probability is that pakapoo investors are swindled. The Inspector represented tho necessity of something drastic being done to bring tho business to an end. So far as Chinese going to prison are concerned, ho, explained that it rested with their wealthy bankers* in the background to decide whether their fines should be paid or'they-should be allowed to undergo incarceration, for which they would reoeire a consideration of £2 per week.

Mr O'Leary, for the defence contended that the Inspector was much exaggerating the position, and pointed out that the defendents were vegetable vendors, who only added a, few pence to their earnings by disposing of pakapoo tickets.

One of the defendants was fined an additional 10s for assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty.