POLICE RAID-AND AFTER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 22 April 1912, Page 4

POLICE RAID-AND AFTER.

THE BOOKMAKER STILL THRIVES.

IBr Telcc'rash—Press' Association.! Auckland, April 21,

While the result, of last week's polico raid serves to show that tho bookmaker slill thrives despite the provisions of tho (.mining Act of 1910, which aimed at his total extinction, it; quite failed 'to indicate the full extent to which illegal betting goes on in Auckland. While tho gaming house proprietors convicted were well known ns layers of odds, they did not by any means represent the biggest bookmakers. At present operating in this city there are quite fltty such gentry carrying on lucrative bookiiiaking business in and about Queen Street, and there nro at least half a dozen who probably each have a larger clientele than nil thoso arristed last week put together. Certain it is that if tho law's intention is really to be carried out, tho polico must follow tho recent raid up with vigorous and systematic action. A epasmodio effort is useless. To illustrate how small has 'been the moral effect of the prosecutions just completed, an ordinary citizen had only to keep his eyes and ears open in Queen Street yesterday morning. In certain saloons lrell-knowi members of what used to be called "Tho Ring" were openly telephoning their clients concerning their fancies for Epsom orTrentham, at both of which places racing was in progress. That certain semi-public places aro similnrly frequented and used is very well known. Tho fact is indisputable that tho punter can today in Auckland have his little bet in shillings or pounds without tho slightest trouble, and that there is no more difficulty in betting with a. bookmaker now than there was previous to his ostensible banishment in 1910. If the principals are not always obtainable, then their agents are.