"SLY-GROG" CHARGES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 161, 17 May 1940, Page 8

"SLY-GROG" CHARGES

+ — SUBSTANTIAL FINES IMPOSED IN RUATAHUNA CASES CARRIER AND STOREKEEPER Fines totalling £50 were imposed? upon two men who were charged in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court before Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., with trafficking in sly grog at Ruatahunor The two defendants were Franlc Brothers and D. C. Cameron. Tlw?latter was also charged with supplying liquor to a native. BotJv pleaded guilty through Mr R. A. Potter. Sergeant O. Tocher, for the polic?,. stated that during April, when visiting Ruatahuna district, Constable Bidois had learned that a, considerable quantity of liquor had been brought into the settlement the previous day. He had made investigations as a result of which Brothers had admitted bringing six dozen bottles of beer to Ruatahuna fronv Wairoa, and selling it there. Carrying on for Some Time. < Brothers was engaged as a driver on a carrying service operating between Wairoa and Rotorua, and on defendant's own admission he fracf been bringing in considerable, quantities of liquor to Ruatahuna. Hehad apparently been supplying bothpakehas and natives. Cameron, whowas the proprietor of a boardinghouse and store at Ruatahuna, had also been interviewed by the constable, and had admitted that he ha<T sold a dozen bottles of beer to a native at three shillings a bottle. Inquiries showed that defendant had handled a considerable quantity or liquor, and that he had been carrying on this business for some time. He had handed over 21 bottles of beer to the constable. Both Regretted Lapse. Mr Potter said that Brothers was, a young mart and had never been irt> trouble before. In the course of hisbusiness he was asked by men at camps along the road to execute various commissions for them, and among these commissions had been: the purchase of liquor. He had beere, getting very little liquor. The Magistrate: Inquiries show~ that he had 40 dozen bottles in onemonth. Mr Potter: Yes, sir, but they were pre-arranged orders. Counsel assured His Worship that both men regretted their lapse, and r would not offend again. had also procured liquor had been asked to do so by men ,ai the camps. Brothers was fined £25 on the charge of supplying liquor without a license, and Cameron was fined £15 on the same charge. On the charge of supplying" liquor to n> native. Cameron was fined a further £10.