HEAVY PENALTY IMPOSED

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11423, 20 January 1923, Page 4

HEAVY PENALTY IMPOSED

SELLING BEER, WITHOUT LICENSE. A HEALTHY CHRISTMAS THLRSI. At yesterday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court William Campbell and tValter Savage were charged with selling liquor without a license. Mr E. Page, S.M., was on the bench. Sub-Inspector Cummings prosecuted, and Mr Treadwell appeared im the accused. In outlining the case the snb-inspeo tor said that Savage was a labourer, and Campbell kept a boardinghouse in Abel Smith street. Both the accused had been carrying on a rather extensive sale of liquor. A bottle of beer had been obtained quite easily by a plain-clothes constable for the sum of 3s. Between the dates of October 3rd and December 27th 50 dozen bottles of beer had been delivered to the boardinghouse. This was rather a big order when there were only two other men at the boardinghouse. When a raid was made on toe premises eight dozen bottles of beer and one bottle of whisky were found.

Mr Treadwell said the liquor came into the premises on or about Christmas time, and was used solely by the inmates of the boardinghouse. The charges covered only a short period. A further breach would not occur. Campbell’s wife was away at the time tbe liquor was on the premises. If she had been home the liquor would not have been there. The sub-inspector: There is one point I would like to add. and that is that the liquor was sold at 3s a bottle. Mr Treadwell: There is an explanation. The liquor in that case was sold to a stranger.

The magistrate fined each of the ae. cw>ed £4O. An order was made that the liquor, which the police are at present holding, be forwarded to the Wellington Public Hospital for such use as may be thought fit.