LIQUOR LAWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25303, 13 August 1943, Page 6

LIQUOR LAWS

DESCRIBED AS M CRAZY ” ILLEGAL SALES BY CLUBS (P.A.).. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 12. "It is almost beyond belief to these interested in the youth , of the country that the powers that be are going to drive drinking underground, for that is what is going to happen,” said Mr C. S, Thomas to Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court this morning, when he appeared for Alfred Leslie Bertie Smith (Rawhiti Golf Club), Percy Edward Brown (Monarch Cricket Club), Cyril George Sweeney (Shamrock Football Club), and Lawrence McLean West (Merivale .Football Club), who admitted selling liquor without a licence on their clubs’ premises. A fine of £5 was imposed in each case. A charge of being privy in consenting to a sale of liquor at the Rawhiti Golf Club, which was preferred against Horace John ThOmas, was dismissed.

“As one who has been mixed up in the sporting life of the community for many years, I can only hope that the time will come, to use 8.8. C. English, when. we will have a Government with gents to attend to their business,” Mr Thomas added. Imposing the fines, the magistrate said that, while it was not proper for him to comment, he would quote his Honor Mr Justice Callan’s remarks in a similar case, that it was a pity that ordinary social intercourse should be restricted too much.

Two constables had played a game of golf on the Rawhiti links on July 3 and had afterwards purchased liquor at the clubhouse, said Sub-inspector MacNamara. On July 10 a . raid had been made on the premises, and possession had been taken of 33 bottles of beer and a 10gallon keg of beer. The facts in the other cases were somewhat similar, though the quantities of liquor-differed. Admitting that technical breaches had been committed, Mr Thomas said that these prosecutions showed how crazy the liquor legislation was in this country. There was always some " scrounger ” who arrived at the clubs when the beer arrived after the other members had “ put a bob in," and to eliminate ” scroungers ” the beer was ordered in bulk and a coupon system instituted. No single individual made anything out of the transaction, and the small margin of profit was put into a comforts fund for buying parcels for members serving overseas. The methods adopted by the Merivale Club were almost identical with the methods of the Shamrock and other clubs.

It seemed an extraordinary thing that where drinking was controlled and was not excessive action should be taken, Mr Thomas added. It was part of the social life of the clubs, and there was no profit for any individual. '