LIQUOR FOR ASHBURTON

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 76, 29 March 1924, Page 13

LIQUOR FOR ASHBURTON

CHRISTCHURCH COMPANY FINED. I OKI'S ON VKNDi>R\ (By Telegraph.—l'resa Association.) Asiduktiin, rrjflny. and Company, riiri.-tchiirch, were convicted and lined -" today for sending two gallons of whisky arid two dozen quarts of wine into the no license district of Ashburton without simultaneously notifying the Clerk of Court.

The defendants' explanation was that a Idler was placed out for posting in the usual way. Apparently the delay occurred in the Postal JJepartmi'iit.

The police evidence was to tin- effect that the liquor was dispatched on March 7. The letter bore the po.-tmark. ol -March JO.

The magibfrate said that I he acceptance of the defendants' explanation would prevent conviction in all other similar cases. The onus was on the vendors to furnish the Chi l< of the Court with the necessary notice immediately. The method was Id pn>t the notice simultaneously with the sending of tlie liquor, and in the ordinary way the notice would come on by tin: first available mail. Whether or not tin , mail was held up for any reason it was very questionable in his opinion, if the onus on the vender would be discharged. It was very important that the police should know about the liquor simultaneously with its arrival. In this < a>e tho liquor was sent on Friday, and would reach here at the latest on Saturday. The police did not know anything about it until Tuesday. Therefore, the whole object of the A-t waa defeated.