HOME BREW SOLD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19379, 17 July 1937, Page 2

HOME BREW SOLD

ILLICIT LIQUOR TRADE TWO FARMERS AND MAORI SUPPLEMENTING R ETPR NS Large scale business as slygrog sellers to natives and others in the Murupara district, about 40 miles from Rotorua, on the road leading to the Urewera district, was admitted by two farmers, Raymond Rouse and Norman Richard Bryant, and a native, Mohi Teepu, in the Rotorua Magistrate’s Court. Rouse was charged on two separate counts of selling without a license and also supplying liquor to natives for consumption off licensed premises, and Bryant and Mohi Teepu were charged with selling and also supplying for consumption off licensed premises.

Senior-Sergeant E. J. Carroll stated that when Rouse had been interviewed by Constables L. Bidois, district constable, and Constable R. Dunn, of Rotorua, he had frankly admitted tending home brew to the natives and also selling two cases of whisky. Bryant had made a similar admission regarding home brew and Teepu had admitted selling six bottles of whisky for Rouse.

Mr. J. D. Davys, who appeared for the three defendants, stated that the returns from Rouse's farm had been only £llO for 10 months and lie had decided to supplement his income by selling home brew, and later had been induced to handle the whisky. Bryant was also a struggling farmer, and if either had to pay a substantial penalty they would have to leave their farms. Mohi Teepu s greatest offence had been that he told his friends where they could get some whisky and in return lor this good turn all he had got was a leg of pork. Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., remarked that apparently Rouse and Bryant had been too busy making home brew to properly look after their farms. All three would be convicted and fined £5 on each charge, together with costs. Had it not been for their bad financial position the penalties would have been considerably heavier. The defendants were allowed to pay the fine at the rate of £ 1 a month.