LIQUOR AT PARTIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1940, Page 10

LIQUOR AT PARTIES

STATE TENANT CHARGED. [per press association.] AUCKLAND, December 10. The tenant of a State house at Tirotai crescent, Grey Lynn, Spencer Rob‘ert Ellis Baker (Mr. Robinson), ap'peared in the Magistrate’s Court on two charges of establishing a lottery, three of selling liquor without a licence, and others of keeping liquor .■for sale and using premises as a report for the consumption of liquor in 'a no-licence area. Defendant pleaded ' not guilty to all charges. i Sergeant Brown, who executed a ! search warrant at the house at 11.40 'p.m. on November 9, described finding . 22 persons of both sexes present. De- ' fendant told the witness that those on the premises had contributed to the cost of the beer drunk.

The results of three nights’ observation of the defendant’s house were detailed by Constables Griffith and Wade. Between 8.25 p.m. on October 26 and 2 a.m. on the following Sunday, about 50 persons entered the house. There appeared to be a noisy drinking party in progress, and many of those who left were definitely under the influence of liquor. Before the police party arrived on the night of the raid, said Constable Griffith, two soldiers and two girls left the house in a very drunken condition. The guests apparently had a free run of the house, except for one room where the children were in bed.

; Evidence was given by Edward Carter, of New Zealand Breweries, t Ltd., that 82 gallons of beer were sup- i plied to the defendant during three ( months. i Constable Anderson said that on five visits he paid to parties at the house a considerable amount of liquor was consumed. When a keg was emptied, he said, defendant took the hat round to collect money to buy more beer. Witness twice saw defendant open a locked room after he had received the money, and take out a new keg. Evidence was given by the defend-, ant that he had been asked by two' friends in the Army for permission to hold parties in his house. They had given him money to buy beer, and the} defendant knew nothing of any col- ; lections taken up for liquor. No charge j was made for admission, and he de-; nied that he had. taken part in any' raffle. i Other witnesses gave confirmatory; evidence. « i The hearing was adjourned/