WAGER ON THE STRATFORD ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 263, 31 July 1920, Page 7

WAGER ON THE STRATFORD ELECTION

ACTION TO RECOVER STAKE. By ..Telegraph—Press Association. Stratford, July 30. The Magistrate's Court was engaged to'day in bearing an interesting case in which Georee Morr'son, blacksmitH, claimed from Stanley Sharp, hairdresser, the sum of .£SO, paid by Morrison to Sharp as stakes in a wager on the result of the general election in Stratford. Morrison alleged that Sharp paid over the money contrary to his instructions. Counsel for the defendant contended that the plaint ff was precluded from bringing an action by the last words of section 70 of the Gaming Act, which declares, that no action can be. brought in respect of money "won, lost, or staked" 011 any wagering transaction. Counsel for the plaintiff argued' that the transaction between Morr'son and Sharp wa3 not a wagering transaction, but only an ordinary contract between principal and agent. He also submitted that the words quoted meant no more than was contained in section GO, that therefore the New Zealand Act was similar to the English Act, and that CecisVms'under the English Act gave the plaintiff the right to bring an action. Decision was reserved for n fortnight.