LIQUOR ON RIVER STEAMER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 209, 3 September 1932, Page 16

LIQUOR ON RIVER STEAMER.

WANGAJTOI PBOeJBCUTIOKS. COURT RESERVES DECISION, (By Association.) WANGANin, Friday. The hearing of cliarges under the Licensing Act against Wanganni Klyer Services, Limited, and its servant, John Cumpbell, a steward, was concluded in -the Magistrate's Court to-day, decisions being reserved.

There were 22 counts in all, and pleas of guilty were entered in respect to five, three ef which were against the company and related to the steamer on the upper stretch of the river, and for which t lie re was no license to sell liquor at all. One of the charges was withdrawn, leaving 16 charges defended, half of these being against the company and half against €ampbelL The point was raised by the company that its servant Campbell had been instructed to comply with the Act, and that if unlawful sales did occur, the company was not liable. Campbell's defence was a denial of sales alleged by the prosecution. Concerning a charge that Campbell supplied liquor to persons unknown while the vessel was not on her passage, Constable R. T. Chayter, who made the trip up the river under the guise of a prospective settler, said that after the river steamer had got to Pipiriki, he returned to the vessel at 8.10 p.m. and found several Maoris in the saloon drinking beer. Defendant was serving at the bar and witness had a drink of beer. He sat in the saloon and drank it and called for another. In the meantime, seven Maoris were served. Two were members of the crew. Asked by counsel for the defence when he joined the force, witness replied that he joined on April 1, 1932, Counsel; Just 15 days before your trip. •Witness admitted that he was quite inexperienced for the job of collecting evidence, but was told by Sergeant Sivyer what he had to do. Regarding a charge that liquor was eold at Pipiriki at 6.10 pjn., the defence was raised that the boat at that time had not been tied up and, therefore, was still on her voyage.' The magistrate , , Mr. J. H. Salmon, intimated that he would take time to give his decision.