TEMPTING PRICES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 87, 9 October 1943, Page 5

TEMPTING PRICES

SUPPLYING OF SERVICEMEN

P.A. AUCKLAND, October 8. Before he sentenced to a month's gaol a taxi driver who had sold a bottle of whisky and three bottles of brandy, locally distilled, to servicemen for £24, Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., made strong comment upon the purchases of liquor by visiting servicemen at inordinately high prices, thus tempting persons to break the law. After imposing sentence, the Magistrate added: "I wonder what steps are being taken by the authorities in charge of these servicemen. This is a serious matter. The laws of this country are being flouted by men temporarily in our midst." The defendant was Joseph Rimmer, 59, who pleaded guilty to selling liquor without a licence on September 28. The* police stated that they received a complaint from servicemen, who said they had bought the liquor at £6 a bottle and it was not fit to drink. When Rimmer was located and admitted selling the liquor, three bottles of spirits were found in his car.

On behalf of Rimmer, Mr. Dickson said his client had given way to temptation. Servicemen coming into the community created the demand and it was a • shame that they should go unpunished while Rimmer and other men had to "take the rap." Rimmer would lose his taxi licence, which would be for him a greater punishment than the penalty of the Court. "Pressure being brought to bear by certain servicemen who have large sums of money to spend, particularly on liquor, is only tempting people to break the law/ said the Magistrate, "but if the Court were to condone the practice the thin edge of the wedge would be inserted for general lawlessness." ;