WINEMAKER FINED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20087, 6 November 1939, Page 8

WINEMAKER FINED

POLICE VISIT HOUSE CONSTABLE'S PURCHASE A visit by the police to his residence on October 24 resulted in the appearance in the Police Court to-day of Walter Stephen Dudson, who was fined £5 on each of two charges of selling wine in quantities of less than two gallons, Court costs amounted to £1 Bs. Dudson pleaded not guilty to the charges. Senior-Sergeant J. F. H. Macnamara, who prosecuted, said that a youth of 17 years had been arrested on October 13, and said that he had bought a bottle of wine from the accused. On October 24 Constable R. Jamieson purchased a bottle of wine from the accused on payment of 3s. Tlie youth who had been charged with drunkenness gave evidence as to the purchase of the wine. Constable Jamieson told of his visit to Dudson’s house, and later of the call he paid in company with the senior-sergeant. During the second visit Dudson denied having sold him the wine, saying that he had given it to the witness because he did not know him.'

Explaining the need for his long cross-examination of the witness, Dudson told Mr. W. H. Freeman, S.M., that the constable had made certain statements concerning his name, work, and reason for purchasing the wine that he denied in the witness box. Mr. Freeman: They often do that in an endeavour to suppress an illegal practice. Evidence was given also by SeniorSergeant Macqamara. For the defence the accused called his son, Wilfred Dudson, who said the constable had said his name was Stevenson, that he worked at the freezing works, and wanted the wine for a party. Soon after the constable left lie returned with his superior officer and further inquiries were made.

The accused said he could not remember the first youth ever having been to his house. The senior-ser-geant and constable had walked into his house, searched the dwelling, and searched him without permission.

“There are few wine-makers in the district who do not sell small quantities,” said Dudson. “New Zealand is about the only country that has no bottle license."

Mr. Freeman, in entering the conviction: If you are not satisfied my advice for you is to get out of the country to one that does have a bottle license.