STRONG HOP BEER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1082, 22 March 1911, Page 4

STRONG HOP BEER.

COURT CASES AT WAIHI. (By Tclcgrapli.—Press Association.) Waihi, March 21. Four men, George Wilson, J. W. Stone, 6. Edwards,,and W. A. Henley, wcro each charged before the magistrate (Mr. Burgess) with carrying on the business of a brewer without being the holder of a brewer's licence under the Beer Duty Act, IMS. Kach of the defondiints was the vendor of hop beer. Sample? from each establishment where hop brer was sold were, taken, and tested by Dr. ,T. S. M'Lnurin, Government Analyst. Kvidence was given by Dr. M'Laurin to the otroct: that. Ihe samples contained jiroof spirit, from 3 per cent, up to 11 per cent. Ordinary beer would range from T to 10 per cent. Thus some of tho samples were as strong, or stronger, than ordinary beer. In giving his decision tho magistrate said ho could not convict Wilson, as he had been dealing with extracts in tho manufacture of hop beer, though ho thought that there should bo some Act governing the use of these extracts when over a certain strength. Edwards and Healey would be fined ,£lO, with costs £6 each, and Stone £10 without costs. The magistrate pointed out that tho maximum fine .was .£20(1, and in future th<s minimum fine, £10, would be increased*