Gambling in Licensed Premises.

Manawatu Herald, 23 June 1892, Page 3

Gambling in Licensed Premises.

In the Licensing Committees' Guide, p. 57, it is laid down by Judge Broad that the Legislature has not seen fit to adopt sec:ion 17 of the 35 and 89, Vie O. 94, in its entirety, the first sub-section of ■which, is as follows: — "Suffers any gaming,, or any unlawful game to be carried. on on his promises " Jn New Zealand the words are merely, •' Suffers any unlawfn' game," etc. Thus, , many modes of playinjr for money which have been held to be " gaming," and- are accordingly prohibited in licensed houses in England, are not so here, the words of p;iir Act only referring to such games a* • have been voa.de unlawful by Statute. Thus, too, it was held that tho game "euchre" even when played for money, is not an " unlawful game," within the meaning of the Act. And it has also been held that section 155 of the Act prohibiting any person, during the time at which licensed premises ar ■« directed to be closed, from allowing anyone to play at " billiards or bagatelle, or any other game in such premises," refers only to games of a like nature to billiards and bagatelle and does not include games of cards, therefore playing at cards is not an "unlawful game," not being prohibited by any statute, nor is the game of dominoes. The same authority also approximately defines what are unlawful games, amongst them dice (or any game played with dice, except backgammon), faro, ace of hearts, basset (an old game, but yet with a certain amount of modern significance), hazard, and so forth, not forgetting bulUbaiting and badger-baiting.