SUPPLYING "SWANK"

NZ Truth, Issue 580, 29 July 1916, Page 6

SUPPLYING "SWANK"

Mick Angus and Maori Belles

A Bottle of Gin Involved

Magistrate Bishop Convicts and Fines.

(From "Truth's" Christchurch Rep.)

An interesting licensing case came before Mr. H. W. Bishop, SJkL, at the Christchurch Police Court on Tuesday, when Alexander Angus, licensee of the Halswell Hotel, was charged with supplying liquor to a Maori woman who was hot the wife of a European.'' Sub-inspector Mullany prosecuted and the defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by lawyer Cassidy. The prosecution was instituted under section 44, sub-section B, of The Licensing Act Amendment, 1910, which makes it an offence, punishable with a fine not exceeding £50, for "any person, whether the licensee of an hotel or not, to supply liquor TO ANT FEMALE NATIVE, unless that Native is the wtfe of a person other than a Native, or except for medicinal purposes, upon the authority of a registered medical practitioner." Bella Waitlri, a single -Maori woman, living at Little River, gave evidence to the effect that on June 13 she was one of a party of Natives who came through to Christchurch m a motor car. The car was pulled up at the Halswell Hotel* and the men went inside. Bella and her pal, Fanny Robinson, went away for a few minutes and, on returning, found the car empty. Angus, the licensee of the hotel, subsequently brought drinks out oq a tray to the girls, Bella having shandy and her pal taking some "harder tack," Pan! (otherwise "Fanny") Robinson, another ample Maori woman, corroborated what the previous witness had said and added that she herself had been brought port wine and brandy by Angus. Mr. Cassidy: Isn't It a fact that Angus didn't come out of the hotel until Just before you all drove off? — No. Didn't he argue with the men about payment and didn't they drive on, so that ha hnri to hang on to the front of the car to save himself from being I killed perhaps? — (The witness shook her head.) Do you deny that Angus was carried about a mile, hanging on to the front of the car? — He might have been on the front for about a mile from the "pub," but I don't know how he got there. Wasn't the car driven at him when he wanted payment for the drinks?— ; I don't think so. Yes, there was some argument about the drinks. As a matter of fact, Angus COMPLAINED TO THE VoLJCE about the party leaving without paying. That's how the case was started. Weren't you questioned by the police? —•Yes. The sub-inspector: Wasn't the argument about the, payment for a bottle of gin?— l believe there was something said about a bottle of gin. Percy Robinson, a Maori boy who was with the party on the day m question, deposed, to having seen the licensee of the hotel supplying the girls with drinks. In defence, Angus said that about €.30 p.m. on June 18, a big Maori came into 'the bar and took some drinks outside.^ He then came back with two other men and they had some drinks m the bar, but refused to pay for them, although those which had previously been taken outside had been paid for when ordered. When the men leftf the bar, witness followed them out to the car and demanded payment It was dark and he didn't see -any women m the car. When witness went towards the front of the car the driver sot the motor going and witness had to scramble up on the bonnet to escape befhg run over. Ho was carried m such a fashion for about a mile and his hands were severely burnt by the heat from the radiator. Witness denied that he served any drinks outside the bar. The sub-inspector: Was it not payment for a bottle of gin that you demanded ?~-Yes, the Maori put down 6/for it and I said it was 7/-, bo when he didn't pay the balance I took the prico of the drinks out of the money on the cqunter and that still left 1/owing to mo. Two men who wore In tho bar at the time, gave evidence that the Maori took the drinks outside and Angus did not leave the bar until he went outside TO DEMAND PAYMENT. He certainly didn't take any drinka outside. Neither of the witnesses had any recollection of a bottle of gin figuring m the proceedings. Lawyer Cassidy said h© could alao obtain the corroborative evidence of Constabio Sparks, who was m the bar at the time of the occurrence. The S.M., however, said further evidence was not necessary, as he was perfectly satisfied that Angus had supplied tho women with liquor and ho would be convicted and fined £5 and costs.