LIQUOR AT CAMP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23773, 28 September 1940, Page 12

LIQUOR AT CAMP

FIRE INQUIRY SEQUEL SLY GROG-SELLING CHARGES DRUNKEN BRAWL AT TUAI [BY TEIiKGIUril —OWN CORUKSPONDENt] WAIROA, Friday Arising out of inquiries into a fire which destroyed tho Y.M.C.A. building rit 1-uai on September 2, when considerable .damage was done, three men were charged before Mr. J. Miller, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court in Wairoa with sly grog-selling. Fines totalling £SO were imposed. . ' Ivaii Ryder, a half-caste Maori, who was described by the magistrate as tho principal in tho case, was fined £3O for selling liquor at Tuai on September 1 when not licensed to do so, and for similar offences committed on August 4 and 18 he was fined a further £lO, £5 on each charge. Pora Whatuira and Peter Te Oriki wore similarly charged, but after hearing the facts the magistrate amended tho charges against these two men to aiding and abetting Ryder. Fines of £5 and costs were imposed in each instance. Beer 2s 6d a Bottle Sergeant L. T. Moore said inquiries proved beyond doubt that there had been a drunken spree at the camp which terminated in a drunken brawl not long before the fire was discovered. It was ascertained also that the cause of the drunkenness was a visit paid to the camp on September 1 by Ryder and two others with a car load of liquor. When interviewed. Ryder admitted that he had taken 12 dozen bottles of beer to the camp on that day and 24 bottles of whisky. The beer was sold at 2s 6d a bottle and the whisky at £1 5s a bottle. Every bottle was sold and the takings amounted to about £4B. It was also found that Ryder had visited the camp on previous occasions. On August 4 he had a trip to the camp and took five dozen bottles of beer, which lie sold for 2s 6d each, and thg next visit was made on August 18. These visits were made on Sundays and coincided with pay week-ends at Tuai. Potent Whisky

A curious thing, said Sergeant Moore, Mas that the whisky was not sealed, and it was also . very curious that accused was able to get 25 bottles of whisky when hotels had difficulty in securing it. One man had collapsed under a table after having one glass of whisky and had to be put to bed. Ryder had stated that he certainly took the liquor there and sold it, but that he had sold it for some other man, getting paid for selling it and taking the blame. Nothing would make him disclose the name of this other party. The magistrate said it seemed to him Ryder's offences were most deliberate and impudent, a serious aspect being that lie sold whisky of doubtful quality, potent stuff. The magistrate also referred to the importance of the hydro-electric development works and the danger which might arise frojn offences of this nature committed in an out of the way place like Tuai.