SURPRISE PACKETS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1925, Page 4

SURPRISE PACKETS

AN ILLEGAL SCHEME. ROWLING CLUB MEMBERS FINED. CHRISTCHURCH, January 22. A surprise packet scheme which was part of an effort promoted by the New Brighton Rowling Club to raise funds to pay off the overdraft led to the eiiiviction of five of the members in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Frank .Jacobsen and Walter Drake were charged with having sold tickets, giving an interest in a scheme by which goods were disposed of by mode of chance. Frederick Ernest Barrett, Lara W. Beasley, and Bethel Smith were charged with having assisted in conducting a scheme hv which goods were disposed of by mode of chance. Mr Wilfred White pleaded guilty on behalf of the defendants. CONSTABLE’S PRIZE.

Senior-Sergeant T.ewin said that on October 27. which was Labour Day, the club held a sale of surprise packets 3000 packets being disposed of at one shilling each. The purchaser of a ticket received a number and took this to a hall where apparently all the prizes wore stored. Each ticket corresponded with a number. Constable ITislop purchased a ticket and he was ljatided a small bottle of liquid hoot polish. Some prizes, of course, were worth considerably more than the price of the ticket. There was no skill attached to the scheme, and ticket holders took ineii chance as to what they would receive. CONSIDERABLE OVERDRAFT. “ The club had a considerable overdraft at the bank,” said Mr bite, “ and organised a beach carnival to raise funds. The treasurer interviewed the constable and asked for information. lie was told that they were within the law provided they did not use any blanks. Some days before the carnival, however, the constable saw hint and said that the scheme was not legal. At that time they had sold a number of tickets, and it was then too late to withdraw; they had to keep faith with the public. None of the members had any individual gain; it

wo,s merely in the interests of the bowling club.” The Senior-Sergeant said there was no doubt that the proceeds were for the benefit of the club. “ OVERSTEPPED THE LAV.” “ There are some anomalies in the gaming laws,” said Mr U yveiil Milson, S.M., “but one may say this, that the laws are framed so as to prohibit gambling, not that gambling in itself is pernicious, but it inculcates idleness, and the idle gambler is of no use. There are offences against the gaming laws because defendants have disposed of articles by a scheme of chance. I don’t think they bare encouraged very much idleness by so doing. What they sought to do was to raise a little money for their bowling club, and they have overstepped 'the law.” Each defendant was fined 20s and costs.