OHAKUNE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 302, 22 December 1933, Page 11

OHAKUNE

SLY GROG CASES HOME BREW AND WHISKY At the Ohakune Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday before Mr. R. M. Watson, S.M., charges under the Licensing Act were heard against six persons. For keeping whisky for sale at Ohakune on or about November 10 Robert Massey Sugden, railway porter, pleaded guilty. Sergeant Joyce said the man was in receipt of a wage of £3 15s 2d a week and had no need to sell liquir for gain. On the occasion of the raid on November 10 five bottles of whisky were found behind a panel in the wall, which was covered with a coat hanger. Two other panels were discovered but there was nothing in them. They found 115 bottles of home brew, Crown top capping machine, etc., and also glasses. Previous to the raid two constables bought some home brew and when it was analysed by the Government analyst it was found to contain 6.77 per cent, proof spirit and 7.42 per cent. Two samples of the liquor seized were handed to the Government analyst and found to contain 5.627 per cent, and 5.51 per cent, spirit. The man sold the whisky at 25/- a bottle. He had been warned and had given much trouble and a severe penalty was asked for. A bad feature of the case was that he had supplied Maoris. He informed the police he had made £3OO a year at the game. It was his first offence. Mr. Dobbie pleaded for leniency. The man had been seven years at Ohakune and this was the first time he had been in trouble. He was a married man with two children and had been keeping his father-in-law and sister-in-law and had a small salary. The magistrate said the man was in a steady position and was a Government servant and there was not excuse for him embarking on an illicit liquor career. It had evidently extended over a considerable period. For selling whisky on September 28 Sugden plcady guilty. The magistrate said the two charges were of the same series. For keeping whisky he would convict and inflict a fine of £5O and Court costs 10s, analyst fee 10s 6d, part expense of execution of search warrant 18s lOd. On the charge of selling whisky he would convict, but would impose no fine, the man being ordered to pay costs. When the raid was made four of the tumblers seized belonged to the NewZealand Railway Department, and Sugden was charged with the theft of these four glasses, which were valued at Is 6d each. He was further charged with receiving them, knowing them to have been stolen. Sugden pleaded not guilty. Constable Shields said that when he made the raid on the premises at the rear of accused’s residence he found a private unlicensed bar, containing a tray with 10 glasses on it. He produced four of the glasses, which had on them the N.Z.R. brand. Sugden said there was no need to take the railway glasses but witness said they must take all. Later he interviewed Sugden and asked if he had any explanation to give as to how he had the railway glasses and he did not have any. Witness told him he would likely be prosecuted for theft. In reply to Mr. Dobbie, witness said the place was locked. The glasses w r ere on a tray on a bench. They had been washed and were upside down. There were five large glasses and the rest were small ones. There were no brands on the other tumblers. G. H. Carnie, stationmaster at Ohakune, identified the glasses as belonging to the Railway Department. No one had any right to them nor could they be sold to anyone. He produced a circular issued to the staff on October 25, drawing attention to the misuse of railway property. Accused signed as having had that circular. The rules produced also prohibited any employees having property. In answer to Mr Dobbie, the witness sxplaincd if a person wanted to take refreshments out of the refreshment rooms they were supposed to use a cup. Tumblers were not supposed to leave the rooms. He admitted in a rush it was possible a glass may have been taken out of the rooms. The accused gave evidence. He said men brought these glasses into his bar and he found them after he cleared up the place when they had left. He did not return them to the railway because he thought as other fellows had brought them there they should take them back. He was quite open about it and the glasses were on the bench. He admitted he could not remember the names of the men who brought the glasses to his bar. He did not know where the glasses came from but admitted ho knew "they were railway glasses. He had about 15 glasses in his plaxie. The magistrate said he regretted he was unable to accept the evidence of the accused. It was the oldest excuse for theft that some man brought goods and the accused did not know the name of the man. There may be some looseness with regard to glasses at the reires} ment rooms but that is no excuse. He convicted accused for theft and dis missed the receiving charge. He inflicted a fine of £1 and costs, the glasses ti be returned to the railway. Beer at Dances. For selling beer at Rangataua on October 23 William Jones, relief worker, pleaded guilty, and for keep ing beer for sale on November 10 he* also pleaded guilty.

Sergeant Joyce said the police had warned the man about selling home brew. He was in the habit of taking a load of peer to dance halls and sealing it. He sold some to two constables At the raid they found 11 bottles home brew, four bottles wine, some fining:, 10 gallon cask home brew brewing, five gallon cask wine that had only been down about a couple of days. A sampje of the home brew when analysed by the Government analyst showed 8.98 per cent, spirit, another sample 4.04 per cent, and ruotliei 6.06 per cent. At the dances he sold the beer for 1/- a botr.lc, Ke had been warned as there had been drunkenness. It was admitted he was in poor circumstances but if that was to be taken as an excuse about 20 per cent, of the people of Ohakune would be sly grog scUcis. Mr. Doljbie pleaded for leniency. The man sold home brew only and at Rangataua only. The magistrate said he would inflict a fine of £2O on the keeping for sale and costs. On the selling charge he would convict and order the man to pay costs. His reason for the reduced fine was not because the man was a relief worker but because he appeared to do a small traffic. For selling beer at Ohakune on September 22 and keeping beer for sale at Rangataua on November 10 Albert White pleaded guilty. Sergeant Joyce said the man was a sawmill worker. When his place was raided they found 47 bottles home brew, 10 gallon keg home brew. 51 empty bottles, Crown topping machine, etc., and glasses. He also attended dances and was in opposition to the previous man. He sold beer to two constables at a dance. It was analysed and contained 8.27 per cent, spirit. Other samples showed 8.05 per cent and 7.94 per cent. On the charge of keeping the magistrate inflicted a fine of £3O and costs and for selling he convicted and ordered the man to pay costs. For Christmas Trade. For selling beer at Ohakune on September 29 Denis Martin Murphypleaded guilty. Sergeant Joyce said the man was a shearer. They found 71 bottles home brew, ready for sale. 162 empty bottles ready to be filled. His samples showed a test of 5.39 per cent, 5.32 per cent, 4.79 per cent and some he said was for Christmas trade showed 7.17 per cent. Mr. Dobbie said the man was on the relief until he went away shearing. He was not at home when the raid wasmade on his place. He sold home brew to augment his wages as others were doing the same thing. The magistrate convicted and inflicted a fine of £3O and costs. “Home Away from Home.’’ Ethel May Thomas pleaded guilty to selling beer at Ohakune Junction on July 14 and her husband pleaded guilty to selling it on July 22. Sergeant Joyce said Thomas was a guard on the railways for 26 years He was receiving 18a a day less the , cut. He had no need to sell liquor. It appeared that the wife usually sold the beer but when she was not there the man sold it. On the day of the raid the police found four gallons of homo brew in process of making, 26 empties, and a small quantity of whisky in a bottle. The analyst of the samples of four sales made by Mrs. Thomas showed 6.74 per cent spirit, 7.06 per cent, 6.85 per cent, 6.74 per cent, and the sale made by Mr. Thomas showed 8.48 per cent. The police did not press for a heavy penalty against the woman as they believed she was saving her husband. On a previous occasion an attempt had been made to effect a sale but it was refused. Mr. Ritchie pleaded for the two defendants. The man would lose his job w’hich would bo penalty enough. He explained that there were special circumstances. The house was a‘ 1 home away from home” for railway employees. They were loath to accept hospitality without paying and insisted on buying liquor. The woman was in a bad state of health. There had not been any warning from the police and no liquor taken to dances. Sergeant Joyce said that young Thomas had been carrying beer to dances and selling it. In reply to the magistrate, it was stated that though the police had not given a warning the Railway Department had given one. The magistrate said he did not like the fact of the man getting the woman to sell the beer for him. There was no merit in that from the man’s case. He would fine the man £3O and costs and the woman £5 and costs. Time Allowed. Request for time for payment of fine was made in each case. Sugden was ordered to pay forthwith, in default three months in Auckland gaol. Jones was ordered to pay £5 and Court costs at once and the balance at the rate of £5 per month. White was required to put down £lO and Court costs and pay £5 on February J, March 1, April 2 and May 1. Murphy was allowed the same time. Mrs. Thomas was ordered to pay forthwith, in default one month, and Thomas forthwith, in default two months. In all cases the liquor was confiscated. The police withdrew six other charges.