“CARGO” OF WHISKY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 171, 15 April 1921, Page 6

“CARGO” OF WHISKY

FOR THE KING COUNTRY SUBSTANTIAL FINE IMPOSE!* By Telegraph.—Press Association. New Plymouth, April 14. In the Magistrate’s Court this morning, Fi-ederick Volker appeared before Mr. Bailey, S.M., on several charges arising out of his taking into the proclaimed area of the King Country 131 bottles of whisky. A plea of guilty was entered on charges of keeping liquor for sale, and of failing to give his name and address to the publioan when ordering the liquor. Inspector Hutton said defendant had lieen working at Awakino for the Public Works Department. On March 4 last, while driving from Tongaporutu to Awakino, Constable Blaikie intercepted defendant, who had some sacks in a trap, and when asked what the cargo was, replied, “vegetables.’’ This did .not satisfy the constable who seized the bags, which contained 131 bottles of whisky. Inspector Hutton said the police had had complaints of this sort of thing, and "cargo running” was being carried on.from the sea, from T« Kuiti and from this side of the district, but tile chances of detection were very remote. The taking of such a largo quantity of liquor into a proclaimed area was a serious matter, and if a man could put down £72 for the liquor, he could pay a substantial fine. Nothing else was known against the accused, but other people in the district were carrying on the traffic. The Court convicted accused on. the charge of keeping liquor for sale, and imposed a fine of £2O and costs. On the charge of failing to give his name and address to the publican when, purchasing the liquor, a conviction was recorded without penalty.