LIQUOR AT CABARET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 22 February 1941, Page 6

LIQUOR AT CABARET

OFFENCE DESCRIBED AS BRAZEN FINES IMPOSED l United Press Association) Wellington. This Day. “Counsel for defendant has implied that this is not a deliberate breach of the law. I have said that ‘deliberate’ is not the word —it is not strong enough. We should have to use the term ‘brazen’ for such an attempt to flout the law. I think that is more appropriate,” said Mr Luxford, S.M.. in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday at the conclusion of the hearing of charges against William Albert Wilson, manager of the Crow’s Nest Club (Dr. A. J. Mazengarb). who pleaded guilty to three charges of allowing liquor to be consumed in a dance-hall and not guilty to one charge of allowing liquor to be consumed in a restaurant. Defendant said that if his place were considered by the law to be a restaurant and he were convicted be would have to close up the business. “On the evidence. it would be very much better for the community if this place should go out of business and be closed,” said Mr Luxford. “The spirit of lawlessness and of getting round and breaking the law has been serious, and is becoming serious. When we have laws which are openly flouted, and people think !it is clever that they can flout the law. then it is a very dangerous thing in the community. This, and similar offences under the Gaming Act, are probably more responsible than anything else for the large increase in juvenile crime at present.” Wilson was convicted on all charges; he was fined £2O on each of three and convicted and discharged on the fourth. Security for appeal was fixed in the case of the charge of permitting liquor to be drunk in a restaurant.