LIQUOR FOR MAORIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 15

LIQUOR FOR MAORIS

PROSECUTION AT TE KUITI FINES TOTALLING £lO IMPOSED [bv TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] TE KUITI, Tuesday Charges of supplying liquor to natives and with failing to give a statement of his name and address when ordering liquor to be brought into the King Country were preferred against William Edward James Gilbert, of Pirongia, in the Te Kuiti Magistrate's Court this morning. Mr. Paterson appeared for accused. Sergeant Paine stated that on May 5 accused was engaged on carpentering work at the pa at Te Kuiti. As the job was being completed they decided to celebrate the occasion. Accused sent to Ohaupo for five gallons of beer, the liquor being paid for by a "tarpaulin muster." The beer, which was ordered in a fictitious name, was taken possession of on arrival by some of the natives, who took it to a shop. Tlie sergeant continued that the police were attracted to the premises by seeing Maoris under the influence of drink. Accused had not seen the liquor. Ho had been playing football during the afternoon and went to the pictures during the evening with his wife. " He is more a fool than a rogue," added the sergeant. " He procured the liquor and allowed it to be consumed by the Maoris though he received nothing for it." Accused was fined £7 10s and costs for' supplying liquor to natives and £2 ]os for failing to furnish the name and address when ordering. He was allowed time in which to pay.