GAMING CHARGES TWENTY-SEVEN CHINESE TROUBLE OVER INTERPRETER (By Telegraph.—Press. Association.) CHRISTCHUBCH, This Day,

'During the hearing of gaming charges against twenty-seven Chinese yestcrday an development occurred when the Magistrate, Mr. E. D. Moslcy, announced that he was not satisfied with the interpreter, Percy Chew Lee, and that another interpreter would have to be. secured. "All I want is the truth, and I am not satisfied that I have got it so far," he said. He therefore adjourned the case.

When the hearing was resumed this morning a new interpreter, W. Wah a Canterbury College student said: "Frankly, I would rather go to prison than interpret on rthis occasion

Senior-Sergeant.Fox said it had come to his knowledge that Chinese concerned in the case had shown hostility to a number of their own countrymen,apparently because of an erroneous: idea that they had given information to the police. There actually had been a threat of violence. That was rather aii ugly attitude to take up. Addressing the accused, the Magistrate said: "You can take.it from me that any threat from a European: or a Chinese will reap its consequences. British law, which grinds slowly, will grind that person." Wah was still unwilling to act as interpreter. He denied that hostility had been shown to him. There were circumstances he did not wish to disclose. It was not fear. Wah added that Chew Lee was a competent interpreter. The Magistrate: I was not satisfied with him yesterday. The case proceeded while an endeavour was being made to secure another interpreter. Later an interpreter named Chan was secured and Wah was released of tUc duty.

The hearing was then continued normally. The principal accused, Yee Kwong, aged 63,. a gardencr, is charged with permitting premises in Madras Street to be used as a gaming house, and of having prepared opium in his possession. Ah Sang, aged 64, a gardener, is charged with assistingKwong. Twentyfive other Chinese are charged with beting found without lawful excuse at a gaming house. Kwong denied that people coming to the house paid him anything to play fantan or dominoes. He did not know fantan was illegal in New Zealand. Another Chinese said, that the place was merely a club for which subscriptions were paid.

The c ase is proceeding, Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 15, 18 July 1933, Page 9