TOTALISATOR BETTING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 October 1901, Page 3

TOTALISATOR BETTING.

(per press association.)

Wanganui, October 3.

At the police Court to-day, five men arrested on the course on the first day of the race, were charged with having no visible means of support. The evidence given by the police was to the effect that accused generally frequented the race courses, and mads their living by tote hotting and giving “ tips,” Mr Kettle, S. M. in giving judgment, said that the defendants were charged with being idle and disorderly persons within the meaning of Section 26 of " The Police Offences Act, 1884.” The evidence showed that they had no visible lawful means of support and the question the Court had to determine under this section of the Act, was whether they had given a good account of their means of support to the satisfaction of the Court. The evidence showed and the defendants themselves admitted that they gained their livelihood by travelling about New Zealand from racecourse to racecourse, backing horses on the totalisator and giving “tips” to persons who wished to invest money on the totalisator. Judge Kettle held that this was not recognised by respectable people as a legitimate method of obtaining a livelihood, and as this was the only way in which the defendants obtained their subsistence he could not hold that they had given a good account of their means of support. Defendants were therefore convicted of being idle and disorderly persons. Mr Kettle counselled defendants to abandon their mode of life and seek some more honorable employment. If they continued in their present path it would result in their being sent to gaol, The defendants were then convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon,