SALE OF HOME BREW

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1934, Page 5

SALE OF HOME BREW

REGARDED AS SERIOUS OFFFENCE. PETONE RESIDENT FINED £25. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. "The department views this type of offence as very serious,” said the Collector of Customs, Mr. A. Paul, in the Petone Court to-day when Arthur Thomas Bird was charged selling beer without a license and carrying on the trade or business of a brewer, not being the holder of a brewer’s license. Bird pleaded guilty. Mr. Paul said Constable Ogin’s attention was drawn to the behaviour of two youths who were staggering in the street. One of the youths made a statement in which he said he bought two bottles of home brew at Bird’s home. A search warrant was obtained and in the bedroom of Bird’s home 12 quart bottles of home brew ■were found. In the washhouse a 15-gallon cask of liquor in the process of being brewed and 70 empty bottles were found.

Bird said he started selling beer because he was on relief work. The Collector of Customs stated that the home brew contained about 6.3 per cent, proof spirit, which was about the strength of beer sold by licensed brewers.

On the charge of selling beer without a license, Senior-Sergeant Sivyer asked for an order for the confiscation of the liquor, to which the magistrate agreed and entered a conviction. On the charge of carrying on the trade or business of a brewer without a license, the minimum fine of £25 was imposed. Bird was allowed a month to pay.