ARGUMENT ABOUT FINE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18367, 28 April 1925, Page 7

ARGUMENT ABOUT FINE.

31AGISTRATE RELENTS,

(special to "tbx r»*ss.")

AUCKLAND, April 24,

'•'Every convenience for opium smokers." appeared to be provided above Fred Chin's laundry at 148 Albert street.. Auckland, when Chief-Detective Cummings and Senior-Detective Ward visited the premises and discovered Fred Chin in possession of opium suitable for smoking. and four young chinamen. Ah Bop. Wang Ching. Ah Sing, and Wang Wing, evidently indulging in a few puffs. The five Chinese appeared in the Magistrate's Court this morning long before it started, coming of their own free will to r.void the extra expense of a suminruts.

As the Chief-Detective explained to Mr E. C. Cutten. S.M.. Fred Chin admitted being in possession of the- drug, and his four compatriots confessed that they had been smoking opium. In the witness box Chief-Detective Dimming* •said that upstairs in Fred Chin's premises there was a nwi'.i svvrc.iary fitted up for smoking. On the door was screwed r, big iron bar, but on tiie occasion of his visit in company mih S«..nitir-l>et('ctivo Ward the bar had not been put down. There were electric bells lioth on the front door and on the laundry door. Chin occupied the hoiiw am) charged a foe to men who went there for a smokcv Two lamps were found burning. Four of tlie accuse*] were smoking, and Chin himself had a certain quantity of opium. There was a special bodrooni where the victims of the drug might use a bed for '2s 671. In a tin box Chin had £3O. The Uhinaman deelaied he had not. been doing much business in opium smoking since be was previously fined CaQ. Th«» Court was amused when the (Thief Detective added that Chin had asked him to suggest a fine of £3O on this occasion. The four smokers also had views on the subject, of their fines, and declared they were quite prepared to pa.j £5 each, which cash they had brought with thorn to the- Court. The Magistrate: Chin was fined the maximum of £s(l f>nly throe or four months ago? Mr Cum mi rigs: Yes, »e asked me to state that he ran only pay £W this time. The Magistrate: l cannot very well do that. The others will be fined £5 each. Mr Cummmgs: They are appearing voluntarilv and there are no costs. When the Magistrate said Chin would have to pay ££o. the laundryman did not approve at all, and beghi. to argue that the opium seized on this occasion was quite small in quantity, compared with his stock on the last occasion. The Magistrate said he could not take thaf into consideration. The. Chief-Detective, replying to the Bench, said the reason the maximum line was imposed previously was because Chin was carrying on business on an extensive scale. Since then he had undoubtedly modified it very much. Chin continued to harangue the Court, talking about working men smoking (tobacco) a&d being prevented from having a drink. The Magistrate said there appeared to be a special reason for a heavy fine on the early occasion and under tne circumstances Chin would be fined £3O and not £SO. Chin asked for a month to pay, but the police volunteered to assist him in collecting the fine from the little tin box.