A PRODUCTIVE BY-LAW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 93, 8 April 1908, Page 4

A PRODUCTIVE BY-LAW.

A BOOKMAKER FIN ED. The New Plymouth Borough Council, whil-t composed of men who would doubtle- -pum to receive "tainted money" in their business, ha- a very productive milch cow in the Ijookiuaker's who .l.ire lo bet 011 that portion of lie New Plymouth racecourse which i- a borough reserve. The Council ha- a very comprenensive l.v-law and a very profitable one. Already it has been the means of -welling the liorougli Council's "sundries" account by CI3U or so, and | yr terday another la'vei of ojds should I li.i e been before the Court to sho v c -i-e why he -honld not, from his gain-, i ntribute to New Plymouth'.-, pubic: I i -enne. Hut he did not appear. Tlii■iitleman'- name wa- .lohu Wren —not : the Victorian Wren, of mursc—ami it j was charged again-l hini thai on I lie 125 th and 2iith .March he eommil L--.I a ! breach of the eomprebensive by-law, which provide- that "any person shad lie guilty Of an ollencc who frequents or uses any public place on behalf of himself or any other person for the pur]K>sc of bookmaking. In'tHug. or wagering, or agreeing to bet, wager, or pay, receive, or settle any bet or wager, or, being a betting man or bookmaker ar layer of totali-ator or other odds, transacts any business relating to any such calling in any public place. For the purposes of thi- subsection 'public place' includes every -treet. footpath, courtway, alley, thoroughfare, market, park. square, garden, racecourse, recreation grounds, and place of public rc-ort which for the lime being is open to or used by the public, whether on payiueut of an entrance fee or not, also any railway nation, platform, or carriage, als-j any licensed vehicle plyiug for hii'.', and any public ball, theatre, ur room in which any performance or eiitertainiueiu open to the public is being held, and atao any bar, dive, room, or passage forming part of any prcmi-es Ikeused under any Act relating to the sale of alcoholic liquor and also any billiardroom licensed under these by-laws." Constables Duddy, Mcintosh, aud Mclvor were called to prove that Wren, in company with another man named Moody, had been belting on the racecourse, just outside the enclosure. .Mr. John Skinner, surveyor, deposed that the portion of the course indicated was a public reserve, and Mr. Jlusscll Fleetwood proved that no betting license had been issued to the defendant.

Counsel (Mr. (juilliam) asked the! Magistrate to inflict the maximum penalty of £2O on each charge, for the license fee was £2O per day, and it

would not be fair to the licensed men to let this unlicensed bookmaker carry on his business more cheaply than they could.

The Magistrate convicted the defendant on both informations, and indicted a fine of £2O and costs, in default four weeks' imprisonment; ou the second charge a line of £lu was indicted, in default fourteen days' imprisonment.