LIQUOR AT DANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20902, 18 June 1931, Page 14

LIQUOR AT DANCES.

ILLEGAL SALE ADMITTED.

CASE AT NGARUAWAHIA.

PENALTY OF £25 IMPOSED

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Wednesday.

A charge of selling liquor without a licence was admitted by Maurice Prendergest, aged 25, taxidriver, of Ngaruawahia (Mr. W. J. King), in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court to-day.

Scnior-fergcanfc Sweeney said that as a result of complaints received by the pdice that the defendant had been sellin; wine at dances at Ngaruawahia Const ible Hodgo was sent to Ngaruawahia tc obtain evidence if possible. Defendant sdd a bottle of To Kauwhata wine to tl o constable for 5,5. Defendant's premises ware searched and an empty jar which had contained wine was found. Inquiries made at To Kauwhata showed that defendant had obtained six gallons of wine ir March, fourteen gallons in April and six gallons in May. Mr. King said defendant had acted as a : ;ent for a man at Te Kauwhata and had lawfully obtained wine from him. Defendant admitted having sold wine to fiiends and to members of an orchestra oi which he was leader. Constable Hodge vas a friend of Prendergast's family.

The magistrate, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, siid the police quite properly had been t7ing to stop the undue consumption of liquor at, country' dances and the police must be supported by the Courts. Defendant was fined £25.