LIQUOR IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 22, 27 January 1911, Page 8

LIQUOR IN THE KING COUNTRY.

BREACH OF THE LAW. fBY TELEGRAPH — PEESS ASSOCIATION.] TE KUITI, This Day. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, befoie Mr. F. O. B. Loughnan, S.M., L. D. Nathan and Co., Auckland, were charged, on three informations, with sending liquor into the King Country without furnishing a statement of the quantity to the Clerk of the Court. The proseco+ion contended that the_j statement supplied was incomplete, as the quantity had not been specified. The defence argued that the quantities in cases were generally known and accepted. When assorted cases were sent, the different quantities were stated. Mr. Warnock, of L. B. Nathan and Co.. stated that the same practice was adopted for the King Country as was followed in sending liquor to the Ohinemuri district. Had the r>olice asked the firm for specific quantities to be stated, the quantities would have been supplied. The firm made up cases of tight dozen pints and other firms seven dozen. • The magistrate said the statements furnished were misleading to the police, in view of Warnock's evidence, which made it clear that the Act had not been complied with. He was satisfied that the defendant firm had honestly endeayonred to comply with the Act, and considered it regrettable that the authorities had not been more yielding. Had the firm been written to, no doubt, it would have complied with the Act. The Clerk of the Court was not to blame for acting .under instructions from headquarters. The firm was technically guilty, but he would not record a conviction, and dismissed the casi*.