Gambling Among Chinese

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 196, 23 August 1904, Page 4

Gambling Among Chinese

HOW THE EUROPEANS FARE. ATTRACTIONS OF I'AK-A-PU. VIEWS OF A POLICE-INSPECTOR Some interesting evidence was given by Inspector Ellison, of Wellington, before the Petitions Committee on the question of gambling in the Chinese quarters of Wellington. The committee had to consider a petition praying that more drastic measures 'be taken for the suppression, of gambling, amomg Chinese, and after hearing Inspector Ellison, they recommended the Government to give effect to the prayer of the petition. Inspector Ellison said gambling in various forms is carried on very much by Chinamen in all parts of New Zealand where the Chinese collect. It seemed to, he about the only recreation they tad. He thought the only 'objectionable feature-, was when the Europeans took part In it. Pak-a-pu was fli lottery pure and simple. Fan-tan was carried on mostly among the Chinese themselves. He did not think pak-a-pu would bo carried on to any harmful extent but for the support it received from Europeans. The easiest way to chock it would be to make it a n offence for Europeans to frequent Chinese quarters, where lotteries are carried on. He did not think the playing of dominoes, cai'ds or even fan-tan among the Chinese themselves would do much harm. Ho thought it would be as hard to j top such games among the Chinese as to stop whist among Europeans. He thought the gaming propensities of our own people in private houses are just about the same as the Ohincse at pak-a-pu. The odds were greatly in favour of the Chinese, the bankers ; but there was a certain amount of charm about it. He had heard of a case where a young man of 18 struck the bank for £.20, and from that time out, the young man passed his time there. He- had no power over the boy as the law sto o d, but he bluffed him into staying away from the Chinese quarter. He did not think stopping pak-u-pu would meet the case, because another game would ariso to take its place. In We'll iWgton young men, with good situations, went to the Chinese houses, and some idle and lazy men. The Europeans were allowed to be in the hank at. the time of the drawing, and the bank could bo manipulated as well as anything else. There were 22 or 24 agents of the banks in Wellington. The bank got 5d on each ticket, a,nd the agents Id. The agents .he had mentioned I were living by it. Some Chinamen invested, but the bank mostly depended an Europoans.