THE GAMING ACT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2358, 22 November 1921, Page 3

THE GAMING ACT.

palmerston bookmaker. PINED.

At the Palmerston S.M. Court yesterday, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., Edwin Pratt was charged: (1) With exhibiting a document on betting, to wit, a double card on the New Zealand Cup and Stewards’ Handicap races, held at Christchurch on November sth; and (2) that, he frequented Church Street for the purpose of betting. After hearing lengthy evidence, His Worship said it was unfortunate that men bookmaking in a small way should get caught, while those operating on a large scale should escape '“scot free.” Perhaps the reason was that the smaller men were not so cunning as the “bigger” ones. The latter knew a little too much for them. However, Pratt took this business up with his eyes open, and he knew that extra special efforts were being made to put this class of thing down. The warnings through the press had been numerous, while lie also had the experiences of those bookmakers convicted to go by. Tor frequenting the street for the purpose of betting Pratt would lie convicted and fined £4O ,and on the charge of exhibiting a double card, £lO, with costs in each case. la the case against William Heffermann, charged with using Ins premises as a common gaming house, the Magistrate reserved his decision.