DRINK AT DANCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23201, 22 November 1938, Page 16

DRINK AT DANCES

COMMENT FROM BENCH BALE BY UNKNOWN PERSONS DISTURBANCE AT NETHERTON [ill* TEL KG HA I'll —OWN CO RR ESl'OJf PENT] THAMES, Monday "It appears that at such country functions sonic person or persons are making a practice of selling wine, which is no doubt the cause of a lot of trouble," said Mr. •). AY. Dauby, J.P., who was associated with Mr. N., Jonasson, J.P., in bearing charges against three men in the Thames Police Court this morning, which were a sequel to disturbances outside the hall at Netherton on Saturday night. "Wo do not think it is outside the province of the Bench to call the attention of the police of the district to this fact, in order that the practice may be put down, 1 ' added Mr. Dauby. Relating to the fact that the accused had been provided with wine by some person whom they did not know, Mr. W. Fortune, appearing for the men charged, said that on top of the beer i.ltev had previously drunk the wine had had serious effects. The accused were Richard Howard, charged with obscene language. Bernard Heft'ernan, drunkenness and indecency, and Gordon Allan Patton, drunkenness and assault. Pleas of guilty were entered in each instance. "I would point out that all the charges are serious ones, and, furthermore, you have pleaded guilty to thoin all," said Mr. Dauby. "Although statements as to your character have been submitted, the fact remains that you ;nll went to the dance under the influence of liquor and consumed more liquor there. That is a dangerous thing to do." Howard was fined £3 tor using obscene language. Patton was convicted nnd discharged on the drunkenness count and was fined £3 for assault. Heft'ernan, for drunkenness', was convicted and discharged, and on the other charge was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months.