ALLEGED ILLEGAL SALE OF LIQUOR

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 991, 4 March 1909, Page 21

ALLEGED ILLEGAL SALE OF LIQUOR

The quarterly sitting of the S.M. Court at Waipu was held on February 18, Air. Dyer S.M., presiding.. A good deal of business was. transacted. A charge was la d against the Northern S.S. Co. for a breach of the Licensing Act by a.lowing .iquor to be sold on one of their steamers (s.s. Gael) when moored at the Waipu Wharf. Sergeant F. A. Moore, of Whangarei, conducted the case for the ploice, and Air. M. G. McGregor appeared for the defenuant company. Constable Miller gave evidence to having found several persons about the s.s. Gael one Sunday night, some w.th liquor on them, which they said had been given them by the steward of the boat, as they had taken on board i couple of dressed fowls.

Several witnesses were called for the police. For the Company, evidence was given by Mr. C. Ranson (manager) and Air. Roney (chief providore of the company), who said that the steward was acting contrary to the instruction under which he was engaged, it having been made perfectly clear to him when engaged (as is done to all men engaged as stewards by the company) that a breach of the packet license under which liquor is sold on the boat meant instant dismissal.

Mr. McGregor, counsel for the defence, raised the po nt that the case should not have been brought against the company as a breach of the license, but as a case of sly-grog selling against the steward, maintaining that when the boat reached the wharf she ceased to be licensed premises. and that a breach of the license could only take place between the wharves. H s Worship said that he was inclined to take this view of the matter, but would reserve his decision, which would be given in Auckland. However, he was quite satisfied that the police had proved the sale of the liquor.