THE LICENSING ACT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1132, 20 May 1911, Page 3

THE LICENSING ACT.

*-• ——- MASTERTON CASES IN COURT. Several charges of. alleged breaches of tho Licensing Act were investigated in tho Magistrate's Court at Masterton yesterday by Mr. L. G. Keid, S.M. John M'Gonville, a young man. twenty years of age, was charged with giving an order for the supply of liquor to a NoLicense area without furnishing correct name and address. The ofienco was admitted, and the accused was fined £3 and 19s. costs, in default fourteen days' imprisonment. Harry Thompson was charged with having given an order for. tiro gallons of beer without giving his correct name and address. It appeared that tho defendant had tho liquor addressed to a stable instead of to the houso in which he was living. His Worship sail 1 that a technical offence had been committed, and imposed a penalty of 205., and costs, in default 7 days' imprisonment.

Frederick James Bright was charged on two informations with having given orders for liquor without'supplying full name and address. It appeared from the evidence, that Bright, who is the keeper of a billiard saloon, "Fred. Bright," having lived in (he district for forty years and occupied a seat on the Master! on Licensing Bench for over 25 years, gave an order for liquor to be supplied to "F. Bright, Me.slerton." The evidence for the defence was to (lie effect that fho police were in the habit of visiting defendant's billiard-room; that his correspondence was addressed "F. Bright"; that ho was the only person named Bright in the district; and that he was "as well-known as tho town clock." His Worship stated that it was quite- evident that the defendant had not brought himself within the penal clauses of the Act. Both informations would bo dis-! missed. . ■ ■ Willie Burridge, brewer, of Carterton, w;as charged with having served liquor to a person in a Xo-Liecnsa area without having given (he correct name and address of'the person to whom it was supplied. It was stated in evidence that one Edward Hi ley ordered liquor to be supplied to him at "Queen Street, Masterton." The liquor was so supplied, but (he polic? failed (o (race (he purchaser. His Worship was of opinion that defendant, had acted bona tide, and dismissed the informatir.il. Walter Scott .Togo, secretary, of (he W.F.C.A., Ltd., was charged with keeping for s.ile within a .area, with storing liquor for another person within the Xo-l.icense district, and with suffering a building to bo used for (he storage of liquor for another person. The evidence showed that a case of liquor wa.s ordered from the Grevtown branch of the W.F.C.A. by-one H. N. Harden, that the liquor was brought to Mastcrton for delivery, but after being stored for some days was returned to Groytown. It was subsequently brought to Mastcrton, and lelivered to Harden. The information for exposing for sale was dismissed, but his Worship held (hat a lechnic.il breach of the .Act of last session had been committed in storing the liquor for several days before returning it, and imposed a line of -Us., and costs.

I A clrarsje against Kmil.r ITaviland, of | keeping liquor for sale within a Xo-Li-ccn*e district, was adjourned on the application of counsel for the defence, to permit of the evidence of an important '■ witness briny.obtained.