BETTING PROSECUTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1920, Page 7

BETTING PROSECUTIONS.

heavy fines at hakera. William Scott Cameron was proceeded at Uuw&ra with having on four inturoiatious made a Ijci in the. promises or W. O'Brien, buiidUei, a factory under the t'aciui-y Act, aud also vim having wuUc a pot in tJic liccm>ed premises Qi thu Central Hotel. The five transactions all look place ou the same' day aud related to tho l'tmou Racing Club's <ntecLing. The uefemlani entered a plea of guilty. -Mr, Spratt, tor ttic defendant, said dofeadant enjoyed very inditfereut health, and tor sortie yours had been un tlio road as ii commercial traveller, but owing to ill-health had bad to givo up the road. It might bo said that tor some years defendunt had been betting, but that did not necessarily mean that Uo had be&u a bookmaker. HQ submitted that it was not a, case tor the hearicsc penalty. Dcfeudaut had decided 10 five up the game. Constable Nuttall, who represented the police, said he had been, instructed by ilia superior officers to press for a heavy penalty, particularly having regard to the methods of betting. The department looked upon betting in factories and hotels as worse than street betting; the fact of a. man going into a factory to bet had a bad influence upon young people. The some remarks applied hi regard lo bettlug in hotels. Defendant was a well-known bookmaker, and had been warned previously, when he natf promised to give up the game if hj« wore given a lawyer's license, which had been granted. The bet# took place in a factory. The Magistrate: Technically it is a factory. Counsel: As a matter of fact it is a sausage factory. (Laughter). Defendant was fined £3, with co3ts SB, on eacJi of the four charges of betting in a factor?, and £2l) on the other charge, with costs lis.—-Star.