THE LIQUOR LAW.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1077, 16 March 1911, Page 6

THE LIQUOR LAW.

INTERESTING TAUMARUNUI CASE. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, March 15. The whole of yesterday's sitting in the Court at Taunnirunui was taken up with the hearing of a liquor case in which thedefence was that the town was no longer to be regarded in any sense as a kainga, since- the constitution of the borough. The case was a charge against a young man of having a bottle containing some whisky in a somewhat demonstrative way in one of the streets of the European portion of the to»:n. Mr. Sclwyn Mays conducted the. case for. the police, arid Mr. Strang defeiidcd. Subtle legal argument was advanced from both sides in which the. entire legislative hearing on the question was considered. ' Mr. Strang's chief points were that the circumstances were so completely altered that the original proclamation in 190 i did not govern the newer organisation, and otherwise there was nothing to prevent the Maori Council from attempting to assert its authority over the entire area of the borough. He pointed out that the borough was formed with' the full concurrence of the Nativ-'S. If the reeulationsi.of the proclamation were nullified in 'certain particulars such'as smoking, dog licenses, etc, the remaining- one should similarly fall to the ground.

Mr. Mays combated these arguments, in a .lengthy" address, stating that it was not a question of setting aside by-laws, but abrogating a penal law. The magistrate took the same view. The fact that the boundaries were becoming irksome to European residents could not justify him. in ignoring their, existence. The only remedy was to take steps to have the boundaries restricted or otherwise altered. He would enter a conviction. Here the young man, who appeared to •bo somewhat bored during.the progress of the argument, bo»an to take an interest in the case. He was fined £1 and costs £i ss. fid.