OPIUM SMOKING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1938, Page 7

OPIUM SMOKING

CHINESE FRUITERER FINED SEQUEL TO POLICE RAID “Heavy penalties are imposed in these cases in the interests of the smokers themselves,” remarked Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court this morning when convicting and fining Loo Sui, a Chinese fruiterer £35 and 10s costs on two charges of being found with prepared opium in his possession, and with having utensils for smoking the drug. The charges were a sequel to a raid carried out on accused’s premises in Queen Street by Detective-Sergeant W. Knae, and a party of constables.

In producing the opium and utensils found in the shop, Detective-Sergeant Kane, and a party of constables, lieve that Sui had more in his possession.

Mr C. C. Marsack, who entered a plea of guilty on behalf of Loo Sui, said it was an unfortunate case. Sui had been in the habit of taking opium regularly and freely when in China. He had found it extremely difficult to give up the opium entirely when he came to New Zealand: It was something to his credit that he had not been convicted for seven years. He was a law-abiding citizen who found that opium gave him relief from some internal trouble. He now intended to give up business and go to Wellington. It was an extraordinarily difficult matter for Chinese, who formed the habit in China, to find that opium smoking was prohibited by law in New Zealand. Mr Lawry said there was no indication in the case that the offence was aggravated by enticing others, particularly Europeans, to smoke opium. He convicted and fined accused £35 and 10s. costs, and ordered that' the confiscated goods should be forfeited.