ON SLY GROG PREMISES

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1934, Page 7

ON SLY GROG PREMISES

THIRTEEN CONVICTIONS POLICE RAIDS AT TAUMARUNUI. “MISUNDERSTANDING” BY PUBLIC. FIRST PROSECUTIONS OF KIND. (By Wire—Special to News.) Taumarunui, Last Night. The first prosecutions under section 230 of the Licensing Act, 1908, were heard in the Taumarunui Magistrate’s Court this morning before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., when 13 town and district residents were charged with being on premises at Taumarunui on October 6 for the purpose of illegally dealing in liquor, _ in that they were found on such premises at a time when a constable had, in pursuance of a warrant, entered the premises and seized liquor therein. Sergeant Cleary said that on October 25 a local resident pleaded guilty to charges of selling and keeping liquor .for sale in a proclaimed no-license area and was fined £5O and £25 respectively. He said that when the police raided the premises 13 persons were found on the premises. A quantity of liquor was seized and some of the defendants had beer in front of them when the police entered. Others were in the act of drinking beer. Several of the defendants stated when questioned that they had gone to the premises for the purpose of playing bridge. Sb far as he knew these were the first prosecutions of their kind brought in the King Country. Speaking on behalf of his clients, Mr. J. A. Gordon said that the general opinion of the public was that they were entitled to go on such premises at no risk to themselves. When the sly grog premises were raided a number of reputable people were found therein. They were surprised when they found they had committed a breach of the Licensing Act. So far as he knew there had been no prosecutions of this nature in the King Country for 15 years, and he hoped the magistrate would take a lenient view of the matter. He entered a plea of guilty on behalf of his clients. Mr. A. E. Seaton pleaded guilty on behalf of his clients. He said four of them were not drinking beer when the police raided the premises. They had gone there for the purpose of playing bridge. He asked the magistrate to make the fine small. The magistrate: And I suppose they would have a drink between the rubbers of bridge. The defendants were convicted and fined 10s each.