BARMAN PROSECUTED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 72, Issue 7, 12 May 1944, Page 5

BARMAN PROSECUTED

LIQUOR SUPPLIED TO MAORIS

INCIDENT AT TE TEKO

Arising out of an incident at Te Teko on March 27 last whereby he supplied 18 gallons of liquor, after hours to a party of Maoris, and one Pakeha, Cecil Edward Mcßride, barman, appeared before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., in the Whakatane Court in answer to two charges. Sergeant Farrell who prosecuted, said that a group of four Maoris and a pakeha member of the Air Force had visited the Te Teko Hotel at about 6.45 p.m. on the date in question and had been supplied with the liquor by the defendant. Joe Takarua, related how he had with three mates driven in a small lorry from Taneatua to Whakatane and finally to Te Teko on the Saturday named. He had seen, defendant personally and had asked him for 18 gallons to take away for a party. Defendant had agreed and had accepted £8 in payment from witness. They had taken the keg outside and put it on the lorry. To Mr Barry who defended, witness was definite that it was he who had negotiated the purchase of the liquor and not the Pak&ha member of the group. Whetu Ereatara, a returned man, sa'id he had financed the purchase of the liquor having handed over the money to Takarua. He admitted that he was very drunk and could not. remember clearly the events of the evening. Mr Barry then said that whilst defendant admitted breaking tlie law by giving the Maoris four or live drinks after hours he definitely pleaded not guilty to the other charge of supplying them with the keg. During the afternoon a man named Ferry had rung up and ordered #an 18 gallon keg which he said he would pick up and pa,v for that evening. When the Maori party arrived it included an airman who described himself as 'Ferry' and asked for the liquor, at the same time tendering the money £8. Defendant had in all good faith handed over the. liquor, and claimed that, as all his dealings had been with Ferry there was no offence. Defendant from the box described the arrival of the airman, as. he was cleaning out the bar. The visitor) had mentioned a relative of his now serving in the Air Force and said he was the person who had rung up earlier in the day ordering the beer. Defendant was definite that 'Ferry' paid for the liquor. Sergeant Farrell: Did it not strike you that that liquor was being procured for Maoris. Defendant: Not at the time. When I saw it going away on the truck I guessed that it was probably them. Fines of £5 and costs on each charge were inflicted.