TWO-UP SCHOOL

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1932, Page 4

TWO-UP SCHOOL

23 RELIEF WORKERS CHARGED. SIX CONVICTIONS ENTERED. By Telegraph—Ber Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 29. Complaints made to the police by the wives of certain re.ief workers resulted ing the Russell Ternue relief works during the lunch hour on Dereinb’r 22. The consequence was the appearauce of twenty-three men at the Police ' y Court to-dav, 1m “’charges of playing , I 13'!.' ' two-up. j . Sup-inspector' Londell told the Mag- 1 J istrate, Mr Page, that the police had * received complaints from the wives of relief workers that they were unable to get the little money that their husbands had earned, as they had lost it at ‘“two-up.” Members of the police force went to Russell Terrace, where they found the men who were now charged sitting about in a shelter shed. When Constable Baker reached the door, he saw two pennies in the air, and he heard one man say: ‘“Two to one on heads!” Seven of the men admitted that they were playing “two-up.” The remainder, they said, were playing looking on. Constable Baker said that after the dairies ahd addresses of all of the men had been takeii, he asked‘them if they wished to say whether dr 'riot they were taking part in the game! Their answers were marked their names on the list. The Constable said he had done this as he was of opinion that some of the men, whom he knew personally, were not gamblers. For the defence, it- was admitted that the building in which the men were alleged to have played was not a public place within the meaning of the Act. It was also contended that there was no evidence that “two-up” had been played. Die Aiagistrate accepted one man’s plea that he had misunderstood the constable’s query, and h e dismissed his case. The six who had admitted playing were convicted, and were ordered to pay costs. The cases against the other sixteen were dismissed, as there was no evidence that they were playing. The Magistrate held that the building was a public place.