SUPPLYING LIQUOR TO SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2478, 3 June 1915, Page 6

SUPPLYING LIQUOR TO SOLDIERS

A PSETOO SEEGT.-MAJOR FINED. On Sunday last a man named GeoTge Edward Hanson drove into Trentham Camp and represented himself to be a sergeant-major in charge of a detachment of men from Dargaville. Subsequently he proceeded to give bottles of whisky to several soldiers. When he saw he was being watched by one of the officers he hid. the remaining bottle in his possession in a sergeant-major's locker, and on being taxed with the offence he had just committed he denied any knowledge of it. He was arrested and taken to tho Lambton Police Station. Yesterday, when he appeared before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, R.M., oharged with taking liquor into Trentham Camp, and with supplying a soldier with the same, Inspector Hendrey remarked that he had no idea what had canscd Hanson to act as he had.

"One knows." remarked the inspector, "that where there are a number of men about, such as at Trentliam, all sorts and conditions of people visit the camp, some with the desire of seeing friends, and others with other motives." The inspector added that the authorities realised that the introduction of liquor into camp caused a great deal of trouble, and if. as in the present case, men went there to supply liquor, it would mean that the authorities would have to exercise a much stricter- surveillance over people visiting the camp. That it was considered a very serious offence was evident from the penalties which were nllowed under the Act—a fine of .£2O in respect to the first charge, and' .£IOO or three months' imprisonment as in the second charge.

Asked if he had anything to say, acoaused pleaded he was under the influence of liquor at the time and had no reoollection of his actions. He added that he was a sergeant-major and had served in two campaigns.

The Magistrate: "Well, with your military experience you should know it is against the regulations to take liquor into camp. The military authorities are doing their best to stop liquor bedng taken into cainp. You will be fined £5 in default one month's imprisonment on the first charge ,and ,£lO in default three months' imprisonment on the second charee." , Court costs, 145., were also ordered to be pfid.