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Nelson Evening Mail, 16 November 1916, Page 6

~An important case involving the legality of sales of liquor on Sundays to passengers by rival' steamers at Darga-' ville W3s heard last week 'by Mr F. .).. Burgess, S.M. The police prosecuted the managing director and ..the steward of the steamer Tuirangi for haying on a'; recent Sunday sold drinks and two bottles of whisky lo two men who boarded the vessel at Aratapu and travelled to Te Kopuru. The police maintained that as _ one of the men concerned had not paid a : ,fare he-was "not 'a passenger, and asked leave to cite an. opinion bv the Crown Law Office. Mr G. N. Hayes, who appeared for the defence, objected, and after argument, his contention was ■upheld. The Magistrate upheld the that both" njen were'passengers and were f»Hy, entitled to all the privileges conferred rby packet licenses, and dismissed thje information.. •■;.,

¥ /'The efFect of the war upon the building trade -is, inr common with other trades,"' being seriously felt," savs the annual .reodrt of the Builders and Contractors' Federation. "Only necessary •work is being carried out, and the natural business expansion of normal times has ceased. Owners a.nd capitalists are cautious in their investments. A large immber.of 'he best workers have volunfteerftd for active service, thus creating a shortage of competent journeymeu, resulting in the necessary employment of less capable men and the consequent lowering of the standard of work performed. ■ As to building materials, prices have increased beyond conception, importations • have' been curtailed, and roanv r classes of goods are now-unpro-