Police Raid Golf Club At Balmacewen

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1948, Page 2

Police Raid Golf Club At Balmacewen

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, This Day. A sequel to a raid on the premises of the Otago Golf Club was heard in the Police Court this morning when William Thomas Wight, secretary and professional of the club, pleaded not guilty to a charge of selling liquor without a licence.

The police stated that when a visit was made to the premises at Balmacewen at 6.15 p.m. on September 18, they found about a dozen men in the sitting-room consuming liquor. There were a number of empty bottles on the tables. A cupboard acting as a counter had £3 5s 6d on it and inside were three dozen bottles of ale and three empty spirit bottles. Counsel for the defence, Mr A. J. H. Jeavons, asked that the charge be dismissed. It had not been proved, he said, that the liquid found by the police in the bottles and glasses was alcoholic liquor and there was no proof that a sale had taken place, or, if a sale had taken place, that Wight had made a sale. Counsel contended that under the “honour” system there was no sale within the meaning of the licensing regulations and added that Wight was not present when the police made their inquiries. The Magistrate, Mr J. D. Willis, said he would reserve his decision while he examined the authorities quoted by counsel.