Jazz Singer Fined £100 On Marijuana Charge

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30529, 26 August 1964, Page 23

Jazz Singer Fined £100 On Marijuana Charge

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, August 25. Marlene Tong, aged 24, described by her counsel as “New Zealand’s leading jazz singer” was today fined £lOO when she appeared before Mr R. Drummond, S.M., for sentence on a charge of possessing marijuana. The Magistrate ordered immediate payment of the fine or, in default, two months gaol. Mr P. Salmon, who appeared for Tong, said she had only smoked marijuana that had been given to her. “If she wanted to buy some of the drug she would not know where to go,” Mr Salmon said.

He said Tong claimed that four of the five cigarette butts she handed to the police at the time of her arrest, and which were later found to contain marijuana, had been smoked before she had gone to Australia. Only one of the butts had been smoked recently, Mr Salmon said. The apartment where Tong was arrested was used for entertainers. Shortly before the police raid she had found things that led her to believe the last occupant had used the room for smoking marijuana.

“Never Again” It was because of this that she had emptied an ashtray out of the window while police were searching the house, said Mr Salmon. Tong had regarded marijuana in the same light as alcohol. However, she now realised the consequences that could flow from taking marijuana. He had no doubt that she will never smoke marijuana again, Mr Salmon said. It was not a serious case, the only damage had been to Tong herself. “Jazz musicians consider Tong a leading jazz singer in New Zealand,” Mr Salmon said. If she were convicted it would make it difficult for her to obtain visas for other countries in which to further her career. The Magistrate said it was Tong’s first offence and she was not known to have had any part in the distribution of the drug. However, the penalty had to be heavy to make the offence unattractive to others.

“I am influenced by the circumstances that to delay her in New Zealand when she has engagements to fulfil in Australia could wreck her career and lead to her deterioration,” the Magistrate said.