BEER AT PARTY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 219, 12 April 1933, Page 5

BEER AT PARTY

Barman's Farewell i NO CHARGE FOR ADMISSION Two Defendant's Fined / W/ftihi, April • 11.—Reserved decia ions involving interesting points of law raised under the Licensing Ac* were given by Mr. F. W, Platts, S.M., this morning. The question whether it Js within the law to accept monetary contributions ior a social function at which intoxicating liquor purchased for the purpose is consumed was involved in charges of selling liquor without a license which wero brought against Gordon Menzies, of Auckland, barman, and Eric Rowe, of Waihi, miner. A committee of young men organised a social as a farewell to Menzies, who was leaving the town. A hall was engaged by Rowe and contributions to defray expenses wero taken at the door, but no fixed charge was made. Menzies purchased 15 gallons of beer at the request of tho committee.

The magistrate said the case came within tho ruling given in the base Erickson versus Cattanach, an appeal from a magistrate’s decision in which the members of, a football club purchased liquor to be consumed at a, concert, the charge for admission, bo-: ing five shillings. The position in tho present case-showed that Menzies suggested the gathering and took u leading part, Tho case was the first of the kind locally. The defendants wore convicted and each fined 30s with costs. The magistrate said he believed the statement by accused to the effect that they had no idea of doing anything illegal, , _,