BEER FOR TROOPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 16

BEER FOR TROOPS

TWO MEN ARRESTED ACTION BY AUTHORITIES CHRISTCHURCH PROSECUTION [by telegraph—press association] CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday Arrested by the military authorities for selling liquor to territorials attending the annual enmp of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry at Cavendish, Gordon Brazier, aged 26 years, and Joseph Charles Marks, aged 32 years, pleaded guilty before Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M. in the Police Court this morning. Thev also pleaded guilty to two breaches of selling liquor without a licence, and not guilty to charges of using obscene language. Senior-Sergeant Calwcll said that officers found the men were being supplied with liquor. Accused were discovered outside the camp in a motor-van, and they had been- selling liquor. They were told to leave, but refused. Under the powers of the Defence Act thev were arrested by military officers, and later handed over to the Ashburton police. Excuse Given by Accused In addition to the beer sold, 18 bottles of beer were found. Apparently the men bad gone to the camp for the purpose of selling liquor, and the excuse given was that the territorials had suggested that it would be a- good idea if they had some beer. The obscene language was alleged to have been used during an argument with the officers. Xo members of the public wero present, and Senior-Ser-geant Calwell asked leave to withdraw the obscene language charges. The charge of selling liquor to territorials was an unusual one, and he had never beard of a similar one being made. Mr. R. A. Young, for accused, said the men were on relief work. They had gone to the camp to buy bottles and tat, and had followed up a suggestion that the territorials would like some beer. They visited a hotel 23 miles away, and bought five dozen bottles of beer, which they were selling "at Is 9d a bottle oylv. They had received 16s when arrested. Brazier had borrowed from a money-lender to buy a yan, and had given his furniture as security. Accused had been on the road, and thought they were within their rights. They did not know that particular section of the Defence Act, and counsel did not think many did. Handcuffed Together

After their arrest Brazier and Mark* were placed under a double guard, and later handcuffed together and taken to Ashburton. Mr. Young asked for leniency, as accused had lost heavily through the transaction. Brazier had been kept in gaol for ten days and could not pay the money-lender, and his furniture was to be sold to-morrow. The magistrate said he would take into account the fact that the men suffered personally and financially. He convicted and discharged them for hovering about the camp for the purpose of selling liquor. On two charges of selling, they were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within six months if called upon. They were ordered to pay costs totalling £7 3s, and the beer was confiscated.