DEN OF INIQUITY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 410, 20 December 1932, Page 5

DEN OF INIQUITY

(Press. Assn.-

CHINESE DWELLING RAIDED TWICE IN TEN DAYS HEAVY FINES IMPOSED

— By Telegraph — Copyrlght).

Auckland, Monday. Twice within ten days a party of detectives have raided premises at 123 Grey Avenuq and found a number of Chinese smoking opium. On the last occasion seven Chinese were fined, and this morning, following a raid yesterday afternoon, another eight appeared before Mr. W. R. MeKean, S.M., in the Police Court. Their fines totalled £267 10/-. Wong Hum a gardener, aged 44, who a weelt ago was fined £100, was again charged with allowing premises to be used for the smoking of opium. He pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant Kelly said that cn this occasion only "seconds" were found. There was very little "firsts." There had been no boat in the meantime. It appeared that these premises were used exlusively for the smoking of opium. There was nothing to he said in Hum's favour. He was there purely for the purpose of supplying men with the drug, and was a menaee and a pest to the Chinese community. "His -appearance indiciates either that he intends to disregard the law or that the last penalty was not big enough," said Mr. McKean. Accused was fined £150, in default three months' imprisonment. Seven Chinese, Hin Ton, Sam Gin, Young Gin, Ah Hong, Ah Yee, Ah Gin and Ah Lim, were charged with being unlawfully on premises for the purpose of smoking opium. All pleaded guilty with the exception of Ah Hong. .

Lot of Parasites "They are only a lot of parasites and drug addicts," said Mr. Kelly. "They were given time to pay last weelc, and here they are again. Most of them were before th'e Court last week." Mr. McKean: I didn't reeognise any of them. Mr. Kelly: They were in the same den as before. They had a lot of fresh material. It was the same lceeper and the place was going as strong as ever. The den is a hole of iniquity. Mr. McKean: I ara surprised that they have appeared so soon again. I will have to double the fines. Ah Hong, in evidence, said he left the Chinese Mission Church yesterday afternoon with the intention of asking the men to attend the mission service that evening. He had not been in the house long when the detectives arrived and he was arrested. The charge against Hong was dismissed. Ton, Ah Gin and Ah Lim, who were before the Court a week ago, were | each fined £25. Young Gin was fined £17 10/-, and Sam Gin and Ah Yee were fined £12 10/-.