LIQUOR AT DINNER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23139, 10 September 1938, Page 12

LIQUOR AT DINNER

NO CONVICTION MADE CIVIL SERVICE AND BANKS GIFT TO CHARITY INSTEAD [ill" TELEGRAPH —'PRESS ASSOCIATION'] NELSON. Friday Holding that to record a conviction would bo out of proportion to the offence, Mr. T. E. Mannsell, S.M., today suggested to seven defendants that they might make a donation to charity. The case arose out of a smoke concert and dinner held after the annual Public Services versus Banks football match.

The committee which organised the dinner was charged with aiding and abetting the proprietor of a restaurant to commit an offence, in that at a time when licensed premises were required to be closed he permitted liquor to be consumed in his restaurant. "1 am satisfied that the committee did not know they were breaking the law and acted perfectly bona fide, said Mr. Mauns*ll. "They are members of the civil service and bank clerks. To record a conviction against them would have certain repercussions, which would be, from tho point of view of severity, out of all proportion to the offence committed. I think they would rather pay a substantial fine than have a conviction recorded against them. I propose to exercise my discretion and refrain from recording a conviction. At the same time, I do not condemn tho action of the police in bringing the prosecution, and suggest that defendants make some contribution to a charitable institution." The magistrate then asked counsel if ho would undertake to see that each made a donation of ss. Counsel agreed.