TREATING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16547, 23 September 1919, Page 7

TREATING.

MAN FINED FOR INTENDING TO “SHOUT.”

Tlie somewhat unusual charge of “offering to treat with liquor,” was preferred against James Harkness in the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Friday, before Mr. E. Pago, S.M. The accused pleaded not guilty' and was defended by Mr. J. Scott. Sergeant Isaac Mathieson said • he visited a bar in the Hotel Cecil at 5.50 o’clock on the evening of September 5, and saw the defendant standing at the counter with two companions. Witness noticed that Harkness had Is 6d under his right hand, and said to him “that money was intended to pay for the liquor in front of him and his two mates,” and the defendant stated that it was. At that time tho two other men had not oifered any money in payment fbr their liquor. Subsequently each man olfered to pay for his own drink. Later on Harkness made a statement admitting tho facts. To Mr. Scott; He had not placed tho accused under the third degree. It was necessary to adopt methods that suited tho circumstances of a case. Evidence was given by tbo two men who were in company with tho defendant, to tho effect that they paid for their own liquor and had no intention of allowing anyone to “shout” for them, Tho barman who served the liquor, said ho took precautions to prevent “shouting” in tho bar. The magistrate, in fining Harkness £1 with 7s costs, said it was tho defendant’s intention to treat his mates, but whether tho men would have allowed themselves to bo treated, or the barman would accept the money for drinks, did nob matter so long as the intention was established. Mr. Scott said that tho anti-shouting regulation was a dead letter and had been brought into existence as a war measure. There had been no prosecutions by tho police for a long time, and it was generally recognised that tho regulations were not being enforced. Sub-inspector Emerson said the police had not overlooked tho offence, but had difficulty in discovering offenders, as transactions in the nature of “shouting” were covered up by the offenders.