LIQUOR SCANDAL IN THE KING COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2827, 19 July 1916, Page 5

LIQUOR SCANDAL IN THE KING COUNTRY

— -4— ' MEN INTOXICATED ON METHYLATED SPIRITS. By Tolegrapli—Press Association. To Kuiti, July 18. A lurid light was shod on tho sly mx>g traffic in the King Country in the Magistrate's Court to-day in tho case of a man who was charged with having committed a breach of his prohibition order. Mr. Finlay, counsel for tho defence, pleaded tfiat Jbis client was not guilty of a breach, as ho had drunk methylated spirits. Dr. Will gavo evidence that it was a nommoa custom for inen in the district to get drunk on methylated spirits. Sergeant Rowoll deplored the faot that nil alleged Teputable storekeeper at Te Kuiti sold methylated spirit in large quantities to men who wore known lis alcoholic subjects. This practico had considerably hampered the police efforts to suppress the sly grog trafhe. , The Magistrate, Mr. Rawson, agreed with the sergeant's remarks. "Some men," ho said, "for tho sake of a few shillings will do anything.. They have absolutely no regard for the welfare of others. It is a deplorable state of affairs." Defondant was convicted and given nnother chance on his promising not to drink methylated spirit. Fred Jackson, who failed to apjiear, tras convicted and fined -£50, or, alternatively, three months' imprisonment, for sly grog-selling.