LIQUOR FOR MAORI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 18

LIQUOR FOR MAORI

ILLEGAL SUPPLY ALLEGED COURT RESERVES DECISION ... [from otto own correspondent] - ; CAMBRIDGE, Friday Decision was reserved by Mr. W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Cambridge Court to-day, after hearing a case in which Horace Herbert Hudson, traveller, and Annis A. Corban, wine merchant, of Auckland, were separately ' charged with supplying liquor to a Maori for consumption off licensed premises. Hudson was also charged with soliciting orders for liquor in a prohibited area. Mr. E. J. Prendergast, of Auckland, appeared for Corban, who pleaded not guilty. Hudson was not represented by counsel. Sergeant J. Fry, of Hamilton, said that Hudson was in the employ of Corban, and during his travels canvassing for wine orders he entered tho Maungatautari district. An order was taken from a Maori at the pa for two gallons of wine, the supply being delivered' by Corban. When the order was taken Hudson had given the Maori a sample of wine, and it was this which constituted the first breach. Constable C. H. Maisey gave evidence that the Maungatautari pa was six miles south of the confiscation line and within the area of the King Country. The case of wine in Court had been taken. from the railway station, where it' had been awaiting collection by the Maori. Charlie Smith said ho had ordered the wine after tasting samples, A Maori girl who was at tho pa at the time corroborated the fact.

Hudson said ho was paid on commission only, and was allowed to give samples to customers. He denied that he was an employee of his brother-in-law, but said he was a sub-agent of Corban. It had been necessary for him to sign a bond with the firm. He snid he had been told that he could supply wine to a half-caste.

Mr. Prcndergast contended that Hudson was not a direct employee of Corban's, and thus his client was not responsible for Hudson's action. In the witness-box Corban -stated that he had not had any business with Hudson whatever. It was Hudson's brother-in-law who received all commissions and additional samples of wine when required. Mr. Prcndergast submitted that Corban had no power over Hudson, who was neither his employee nor his agent. Therefore anything that Hudson had done was not the responsibility of Corban.