WHISKY RAFFLED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18900, 15 January 1927, Page 14

WHISKY RAFFLED.

PRIEST BEFORE COURT. SUBSTANTIAL FINE IMPOSED. Arising out of the raffling of a case of whiskv at a sale of work at Mount Somers on October lflth, 1926, the Rev. Father T. \V. Price, of Methven, was charged at the Ashburton Magistrate's Court, before Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., yesterday, with disposing of the whiskv bv means of a lottery, to wit, the sale of tickets, one of which represented the winning number and taking liquor into the no-licenso district ot Ashburton without an order signed by and stating the address and occupation of the purchaser. In conjunction with this case George Michael Doak, a labourer, of Mount Somers, was charged with selling 1bottles of whisky in the no-license district of Ashburton on the same date. Mr R. Kennedy appeared for both defondants and pleaded guilty to the first charge against Father Price, reserving his plea to the second charge until the first was heard.

Doak entered a plea of not guilty. Senior-Sergeant I. H. Mathieson said that in consequence of information laid, the police went to Mount Somers and found that liquor had been rallied on the date in question. They found that booklets had been issued and numbers were sealed in envelopes. One item was "a case of comforts," and this proved to be a case of whisky, the winning number for which was held by a Mrs Green, of Mount Somers. When Mrs Green discoTered that her prize, represented a case of whisky, she proached Father Price and. said that it was of no use to her. Doak came on the scene, took it from her, and distributed it among others, giving Mrs Green the sum of £6. Father Price was quite candid when approached by the police and said he received no personal .gain from tho raffle, which was organised to liquidate tho debt on tho church.

Mr Kennedy said that in his enthusFather Price overlooked the fact t-at he wag breaking the law. He was an old and highly-respected resident of Methven and he had stated the whole facts of tho case to the police when approached. He hoped that his client would be let down as lightly as possible.

The Magistrate: Will the funds of the bazaar stand the fine?

Mr Kennedy: They are now the property of the church, I take it. Mr Kennedy said that the defendant took full responsibility. The second charge was withdrawn. The Magistrate said that the worst featuro about the case was that the lottery of liquor took place in a no-license area. The next thing was that the whisky was disguised under the name " a case of comforts." The lady was also guilty of a technical breach of the law by disposing of the whisky. A fine of £ls was imposed. Constable Orchard, of Methven, giving evidence in the case against Doak, said that he went to Mt. Somers in company with Constable White, and interviewed Doak, who gave him a statement to the effect that he collected £6 for the case of whisky and gave the money to Mrs Green, who held the winning ticket. About twelve months ago he had to speak to Doak about the supposed sale of liquor. Giving evidence, Doak said that the lady who drew the case of whisky did not want it, so a number of young fellows, of whom ho was one, contributed a sum of money each, and purchased the case for £6.

The Magistrate: I think that_ the police exercised a wise discretion in not bringing Mrs Green into tho case. Mr Kennedy asked for an adjournment to look into the. point raised by the Magistrate, whether defendant was not a party to the selling of the whisky by Mrs Green. The application was granted.