"PLENTY OF IT."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 12

"PLENTY OF IT."

WHISKY IN NORWAY. MAGISTRATE ENLIGHTENED. SEAMEN GIT A SPREE. Customs in Norway must have changed since Mr. C. I*. Orr Walker, S.M., visited that country some years ago. A dialogue in the Police Court this morning between the magistrate and the officer of a Norwegian ship now in port indicated that whisky is now much more easily obtained there than was the ease in the past. Three young seamen, Arnid Nygard, Sigurd Hansen and John Olsen, belonging to the crew of the Norwegian ship Norvind, were placed in the Police Court dock on a charge of disorderly behaviour while drunk in Ivarangahape Road last night. They pleaded guilty. Senior Sergeant Cald.vell said that the three sailors made a nuisance of themselves in a dance hall last night by dancing- together in the middle ofthe floor. They were put outside where they continued their antics in Karangahape Road. They had been drinking whisky and were drunk, and were arrested, added Mr. Caldwell. An officer from the ship told the "magistrate that the three seamen wore of good behaviour on board the Norvind. "There- is no whisky in Norway, is there?" asked the magistrate. The officer (with emphasis): Oh, yes, sir, there is—plenty!" (Laughter). Mr. Orr Walker: Well, when I was there it was very hard to obtain. Thev used to give you the whisky and sell you the soda water to go with it. (Laughter). I must say that I noticed little or no drunkenness while I was in Norway. As a matter of fact, the only drunk person I saw there was a British '"Jack Tar.'' (More laughter). In reply to the magistrate, the officer said if.the men were placed aboard their ship they could be dealt with for the trouble they had got into. '"Very well," said Mr. Orr Walker. "I won't send them to see what a NewZealand gaol is like. I will order them to come up for sentence if called upon within a month.