Page 4 Advertisements Column 3

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1926, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT. AUCKLAND, Janaury 1">. " Horse-racing is our natural religion and racecourses are our national shrines, so that U'e must keep them

as free as possible from bad characters,” said Mr ,T. Vv'. Poynton, S.M., dryly in the Police Court to-dav. He made the observation in replying to Mir 1?. A. Singer, who had put forward a plea for leniency on behalf of Archie Howell, charged with trespassing on a racecourse, he being a convicted person. Mr Singer had stated that Dowell, a man of 22, had lieen on the course ‘‘only very momentarily,” since he had a restless horse outside. “Tit is one of the anomalies of our legislation that a man is fined £1 for stealing £lO, and £lO for going on a racecourse,” said Mr Singer. “ And for breaking a church window he may get six months’ for sacrilege,” retorted the Magistrate. “ I suppose none of this money taken in fines goes to the Racing Con- 1 ference,” chuckled Mr Singer. “ Our very good Governments gets 1 all that,” interjected Chief-Detective '■ Cummings. The pleasantries over, Dowell was fined £lO on one charge and convicted and discharged the second,