SHOP SEARCHED

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1931, Page 8

SHOP SEARCHED

POLICE DISCOVER OPIUM. “I am not satisfied that this is a case in which the man lias been us nig it solely for his own use. It seems to me that he has been trading in it,” said Mr J. killer, S.M., in the Police Court at Alastertou last week, when Wong ,Lo Eui fruiterer, was charged with having in his possession a quantity ot prepared opium. He was fined £35. Sergeant T. H. Dyer said that lie and a constable visited Wong’s shop at aoout If. <5 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, and found him in the kitchen. Questioned, accused denied that he had opium iin his possession. On a search being made a tin half-full of opium was found on his bed also a pipe which had the appearance of having been recently smoked. On a further search two tins of opium seconds and a set of scales were found. Accused then admitted that he smoked opium, but denied that lie traded in it. lie said that friends came to his place and had a smoke, but lie made no charge. Mr 0. 0. Marsack, for Wong, said that liis client suffered from a chest complaint, and smoki d a little to relieve it. It was not as if he had a great deal The Magistrate : I don’t think it is a small quantity. Consel : Anyway, it is not the stock-in-trade of a Chinese opium merchant. The Magistrate: The scales have to be •explained. Counsel: He might have used it to measure out his own doses. Ihe mere fact that scales were found does not prove tha't he has been selling it. ft is rot suggested by the police that this is the centre of an opium ring. Counsel added that it took a Chinese b kittle while to learn what was a common practice in China was looked on so sternly in New Zealand. Wong had now learnt his lesson.'