R.S.A. PRESIDENT FINED FOR ILLEGAL LIQUOR SALES

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1948, Page 3

R.S.A. PRESIDENT FINED FOR ILLEGAL LIQUOR SALES

WANGANUI, Sept 20.

The President of the Wanganui R.S.A., and the secretary and treasurer of the Wanganui branch of the Second N.Z.E.F. Association were each fined £lO in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Harvey Rusden Giiberd, commercial traveller, president of the Wanganui R.S.A. was charged with selling liquor when not the holder of a license to do so.

The police told the court that a sergeant and two constables visited the R.S.A. premises on Friday evening and found over 100 persons there, apparently playing “housie.” The gathering was about half men and half women. Bottles of beer were on tables and also drinking glasses. One hundred and four bottles of beer were seized by the police. The gathering was being held to raise funds to send food parcels to England. For the defendant, it was explained that only members of the R.S.A and friends were admitted. The Magistrate, (Mr Salmon? said: “However commendable the objects of the R.S.A. may . have been, it does not justify its breaking the law.” Lottery Charge 1 Mervyn Beck, Motorman, pleaded guilty to conducting a lottery. The court was told by the police that 150 books of 10 tickets at a shilling each formed the lottery. There were three prizes, all being liquor. . , Counsel for the defendant pointed out that the total gain for the Wanganui branch of the Second N.Z.E.F. Association would be £75 and the <branch had only restricted funds. The lottery funds were to have been applied to the provision of club amenities for members. The Magistrate said: This is another example of a commendable object but unlawful means. I have no’ doubt that if the association had applied for permission to conduct a raffle it would have obtained a permit.” .