LIQUOR IN ASHBURTON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9561, 22 July 1921, Page 5

LIQUOR IN ASHBURTON

TAXI DRIVER CONVICTED. CARRYING PARCEL FROM CHERTSEY. «" FINE OF £3~ANI>, COSTS. The reserved judgment of Mr E. D. 0r Mosley, S.M., m the case heard last Friday, m which Robert James, taxidriver, was charged with taking liquor into a no-license district, otherwise than m pursuance of and m compliance with an order stating the address and occupation of the purchaser, was given to-day-Mr G. H. Buchanan appeared for the defendant. , The Magistrate said that an interesting point of law had been raised by the defence. He had not been able to discover any Supi'eme Court decision, but he had been fully into the case, and had satisfied himself, even if he had not satisfied counsel or prosecution. !£. had been proved that a man ' named Cunliffe had asked the defendant to drive him to Cherbsey for the purpose of bringing back some liquor. The defendant achnitted that he had no order. The real object of the trip to Chertsey was to enable Cunliffe to procure liquor, and the defendant knew all about; jtfhat. The object of the Act was to punish any person by whose instrumentality liquor was taken into a no-license district. It was through the instrumentality of the defendant that the liquor concerned was brought m, and the defendant had therefore brought himself within the meaning of the Actt ? and he would be convicted. The Magistrate pointed out * that the maximum penalty provided Bkras £50, or three months' imprison'^ment, which showed that the legislature viewed the 'matter seriously. Mr Buchanan pointed out that the defendant had contended that he did not ' know that it was necessary to have an order, A small fine "he thought -would gi\=e all the publicity to the case that the 'police required. The defendant was fined £3 and t- costs. : . ■ ' r >."••"•■.