USE OF LABELLED BOTTLES

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1934, Page 7

USE OF LABELLED BOTTLES

CONTAINERS FOR DRAUGHT BEER.

PUBLICAN’S UNWITTING BREACH.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Sept. 13.

For a breach of the Licensing Act, arising out of the bottling of draught beer, Matthew Kelly, licensee of the Oxford Hotel, Colombo Street, was fined a minimum of £2O.

Kelly pleaded guilty to a charge that having in his possession bottles with labels affixed he used such bottles to bottle liquor. The prosecutor said that a sergeant and constable visited the hotel for the purpose of taking samples of liquor. Under the counter of the private bar they found 12 bottles, ten of which had Ward and Company’s labels, but none had a proper cape. In reply to the sergeant’s question why the bottles had the wrong cape Kelly said he had bottled Ward’s draught beer in them. He also said he did not know he vzas committing a breach of the Licensing Act. Counsel said he was going to ask for leniency, but he understood that the minimum fine was £2O. “It’s a serious offence under the Licening Act, but I suppose it’s a sign of the times,” said Mr. E. Mosley, S.M.

Counsel said he had been assured that the beer was taken from a Ward’s keg. The police added that Kelly said he had not sold any beer; it was in the pature of an experiment.