HOME BREW KEPT

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1935, Page 10 (Supplement)

HOME BREW KEPT

OHURA STOREKEEPER FINED £25. SEQUEL TO RAID BY THE POLICE. (Special to News). Taumarunui, July 12. In the Taumarunui Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Mr. R. M. Watson, S.M., Kalim Kallil, storekeeper, Ohura, was charged with keeping for sale and selling liquor in a proclaimed area. On the first charge he was fined £25. Mr. A. E. Seaton, who appeared for Kallil, entered a plea of guilty on the keeping for sale charge and not guilty on the selling charge. Sergeant C. Harley prosecuted, and said that on account of a statement made by Kallil he had not called a constable from the South Island to give evidence on the charge of selling liquor in a proclaimed area.

Mr. Seaton said his client would admit selling liquor to a constable, but there was no proof that the liquor sold c itained more than 3 per cent, of alcohol. His client would say that the liquor sold was not the same as the liquor that was seized by the police and afterwards analysed. Sergeant Harley said it would cost £lO to bring the constable from the South Island. After Kallil sold liquor to the constable his place was raided and some of the liquor seized was analysed. The analysis proved that the liquor contained more than 3 per cent, of alcohol. . The magistrate at this stage adjourned the case in order to allow the police and counsel to confer.

When the case was recalled Mr. Seaton said his client was prepared to admit selling two glasses of home brew beer to a constable, but would not admit that the liquor was overproof. Constable Phillips called at Kallil’s shop and was served with two glasses of T ome brew, but there was no proof that the liquor sold was intoxicating. ' In the circumstances he would enter a plea of guilty to the keeping for sale charge. ( In outlining the case, Sergeant Harley said that on May 11 a constable visited Kallil’s shop at Ohura and purchased cigarettes and two glasses of beer. The constable paid Is for the beer, and was informed he could get a drink any time. That was on May 11, and when Kallil’s premises were raided on May 29 a quantity of home brew, wine and whisky was seized. The samples of the home brew were sent to; the Government analyst and two certificates showed that the liquor contained 6.65 per cent, of alcohol or 8 per cent, of alcohol. Besides the liquor seized Kallil had 20 gallons of beer brewing. Constable J. Bradford, Ohura, said that when he raided Kalil’s premises on May

29 he seized 68 bottles of beer, one bottle of wine and two bottles containing whisky. There was a drum of malt, seven pounds of hops and a number of glasses in the shop. Straws and empty bottles were found in another part of the house. In reply to His Worship, the constable said he could not say that tlie liquor analysed was the same as served to the man who purchased liquor on May 11. The sergeant said that Kallil had been convicted of brewing beer containing more than three per cent, alcohol and his

license to brew had Been cancelled. In a conversation Kallil admitted that he had added sugar to his beer to make it keep longer. The sugar made the beer stronger and’ more potent. Mr. Watson said he would dismiss the charge of selling. Kallil was also ordered to pay court costs, and the seized liquor was confiscated. Mr. Watson said the liquor kept by Kallil was considerably over strength. Kallil had better get out of thq, business.