LIQUOR AT DANCE HALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23512, 24 November 1939, Page 4

LIQUOR AT DANCE HALL

CARRIER'S RESPONSIBILITY QUESTION FOR MAGISTRATE [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS £ ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday ' Is a man who transports beer to a dance hall liable under the new liquor laws prohibiting the consumption of liquor at dances? This question vras debated in the Magistrate's Court to-day, and the case was adjourned until Monday for the submission of legal argument. ; r Colin Curragh was charged with being in possession or control of a two-gallon jar of beer in the vicinity of the Lincoln dance hall. He; pleaded not guilty. The owner of the beer, Lancelot. Childs, admitted the charge.-The police contention was that Curragh knew the beer was in the car and knew it was intended for "shouting." 4 Counsel, Mr. W. E. Lascelles, contended that Curragh had no case to answer, as he was only the transporting agent and not the possessor of the beer. The magistrate, Mr. E. C. Levrey, raised the question of control, Mr. Lascelles replying that the man who bought the beer had control of it. Mr. Lascelles added that if Curragh iras deemed to be in conii'ol of the liquor some extraordinary results would arise. "If a man got into Your Worship's car with a bottle of beer in his hand, j then you would be liable," said Mr. Lascelles Mr. Levvey: That is what the whole jj thing is aimed at, lam afraid. The case j| against Curragh is adjourned and Childs is fined 10s. * .