BEER AFTER SHOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22399, 21 April 1936, Page 11

BEER AFTER SHOW

WAIOTIRA INCIDENTS YOUTH WITH KEG STOPPED PROSECUTION OF LICENSEE A 'CONSTABLE'S EVIDENCE [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] WHANGAREI, Monday Incidents at Waiotira on the night of the show on March 11 resulted in the prosecution in the Whangarei Police Court to-day of Berkley William Bunbury, licensee of the Pahi Hotel. Ho was charged with selling liquor at Waiotira on March 11 at a place not authorised by his licence, exposing liquor for sale, supplying liquor to a youth aged 15 years 9 months, and also allowing liquor to be supplied to the youth. Defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr. Trimmer. Senior-Sergeant E. Finch,'"said that accused had obtained an additional licence for the Waiotira show day to supply liquor from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It was alleged the liquor was supplied after 6 p.m. Keg of Beer on Shoulder Evidence was given by Albert William Behm, aged 16 years, and David Pitman, aged 18 years, that at about 10 o'clock that night they put in money with others to buy a keg of beer. % Donald Reginald McLeod, aged 15 years 9 months, said he was at the dance on show night. He collected money from other boys to buy a keg. of beer. He went to a booth in a marquee and got a keg of beer. Defendant and a man named MacLarn were there. Witness said he was not asked his age. Bunbury gave witness some glasses. Witness was walking across the paddock with the keg on his shouldei when he was accosted by Constable Bell, who took witness back to the marquee. Witness said he asked Bunbury for the 25s which he had given MacLarn for the keg. Bunbury gave witness the 25s in the presence of Constable Bell. To Mr. Trimmer, witness said he gave Constable Bell a signed statement that he was 22 years of age. Mr. Trimmer: Have you at your age done much drinking? Witness: Not a terrible lot. Only since I went to Waiotira four months ago. Watch Kept on Marquee Constable J. V. Bell, in evidence, said he saw a light in the marquee at about 8 p.m. and kept it under observation for nearly two hours. He saw parties of people going to and from the marquee, and from behind the marquee witness could hear voices in the booth. Witness said he was suspicious that drinking was going on, and he went away to procure an electric torch from the railway station. W hen he returned he saw McLeod leaving the marquee with a five gallon keg.* Bunbury admitted to Ivitness that the keg was from his stock, but said he was absent from the tent at the time the keg was supplied. Later at the Pahi Hotel Bun- | bury told witness and Senior-Sergeant j Finch that he was sorry the incident had occurred and would plead guilty. Mr. Trimmer: You saw people going ! into the marquee for two hours and ! yet did not raid it? Witness: I went away for a torch. | Mr. Trimmer: I put it to you that ! you had been drinking during the'day and your statements are a figment of vou imagination. Witness: I had three shandies during the day. It is you who are romancing. I was only doing my duty. The Defendant's Evidence Defendant in evidence said he did not sell the keg. He' was away from the tent for a time during the evening. There was a lot of packing up to do before returning to Pahi. Witness found out later that James MacLarn had sold the keg, although he had no authority to do so. MacLarn, in evidence, said he went to a friend's house for tea and had some liquor there. Later he got a keg for some boys from a barman at the marquee. Bunbury was not present. The magistrate, Mr. G. N. Morris, said it was quite obvious that MacLarn was placing the blame on his own shoulders, and Bunbury had adopted similar tactics. "Defendant appears to have conducted the booth quite well during the day," said Mr. Morris, "but after six o'clock I think his conduct was foolish, which later became worse. Constable Bell says there was a constant stream of people coming from the hall, and with a dance in progress Bunbury should at least have had his liquor out of the way." On the charge of selling liquor de- : fendant was fined £lO and costs £4 | 12s, and on the charge of allowing the I sale of liquor he was fined £2 and i costs 10s. The other £wo charges were dismissed.

James Ferdinand MacLarn -was fined £7 10s, and costs 12s, for aiding and abetting; in the sale of the liquor, and £l, and costs 10s. for supplying liquor to a boy under the age of 21 years.