SLY-GROG SALES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 172, 17 April 1937, Page 11

SLY-GROG SALES

“Pernicious Habit,” Says Magistrate PORIRUA-TITAHI BAY ■CASES “It is the practice of New Zealand courts to impose severe penalties in cases of sly-grog selling. It is a pernicious habit, as there is no control of the sale of liquor as in the case of licensed public-houses and, in addition, it impinges on the sales by those who have been properly licensed,” said Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., yesterday, when he gave judgment in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, on the PoriruaTitahi Bay sly grog cases recently be'fore the court. In twelve cases convictions . were recorded and fines imposed. The charges rose out of raids carried out by Constable S. M. Griffith and Constable Phillips at the Rio Grande Cabaret at Titahi Bay, when a quantity of liquor found on the premises was seized. The hearing of charges against the management and proprietors of the cabaret, and those found on the premises, took place early in March, and occupied six days. Mr. A. B. Sievwright, Mr. T. Foden, Mr. T. P. McCarthy and Mr. R. Hardie Boys appeared for various defendants, while Sub-Inspector J. Dempsey appeared for the police. On each of two charges of unlicensed sale of liquor, May Morgan w T as fined £2O and costs. Maudie Hunter was also fined £2O and costs for a similar offence; Harold Wilson Morgan and James Henry lan Hunter were fined £lO and costs; Dudley Hunter was fined £5 and costs; Frances Maud Hunter was fined £3; George Raitt and Aden August Harry Pearson were fined £2 on each of two charges; and Kate Trask was fined 10/- on each of two charges. John Billish was fined 10/- and costs and Herbert John Keeling and William Churchill were each fined 20/- and costs for being on the premises at the cabaret for the purpose of illegality dealing in liquor. Nellie McComb, Leo Clifton, William Dixon, John Imlaeh, Josephine Stephens and Hera Wallace, charged with similar offences, were discharged. The magistrate directed that the liquor seized should be given to the Wellington Hospital. “It would be a pity to waste good wine and whiskey if it can be used for medicinal purposes,” he said. Other Cases A month’s imprisonment with hard labour was imposed on a married woman convicted of keeping a brothel in Wellington. A young woman charged with assisting her was sentenced to 21 days’ jail with hard labour. Another was convicted on a similar charge, and was ordered to come up if called upon within twelve months. Robert Bond was fined £3 for being unlawfully on Trentham racecourse. Frank Groundsell was fined £2 and costs for obscene language. For making false statements for the purpose of obtaining 'benefit under the Unemployment Act, James Bruce Bayne Was fined £4 and costs on each of two charges, and ordered to pay costs on a third. Two seamen, Janies Clarke and George Noons, were each fined 10/- and costs for fighting in a public place.