SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 8, 11 January 1915, Page 2

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES, Jan; 29 and 80—Takapuna J.O. Sueor., mer. Feb. 10—Rotorua J.O. Feb. 13—Te Kuiti R.O. A case of interest to racing people came before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch on Wednesday (says the Press). William Archibald Bennie was charged that, on November 14 last, at Eiccarton racecourse, being of the age of 17 years, he falsely represented himself as being of the age of 21 years, being enabled thereby to make an investment on the totalisator. Mr A. T. Dounelly, who appeared for defendant, pleaded guilty. George Mason was then charged with on November 14 last, at Riccarton racecourse, being a servant of the Canterbury Jockey Club, knowingly receiving an investment on the totalisator made by a person under the age of 21 years. Mr B. L. Lane, who appeared for defendant, said the facts would be admitted, but defendant had no facilities of seeing the boy. The aperture at which the tickets were sold was very small. Detective Ward having given evidence regarding the sale of the ticket, defendant said the sale of the ticket and the question asked by Detective Ward were simultaneous. The act of selling a ticket took only two seconds, and was practically done automatically. His WorsbTp said he would inflict a heavy penalty on Mason in order to show that the totalisator officials could not sell to anyone they liked. He was not satisfied with defendant’s evidence at all. He considered it was clearly the duty of people in this sort of case to refuse bo sell tickets sooner than take the chance of selling to boys under age. Chief Detective Bishop submitted that the defendant bad ample opportunity in this case to see the boy, as there was no rush at the time. Bennie was fined £5 and costs, and Mason £lO and costs.