A SLY-GROG SHOP.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 8 May 1919, Page 3

A SLY-GROG SHOP.

Up to a day or two ago, the casual passer-by who chanced to glance at the window of No. 57 Grey Street, and observed therein a few bottles of innocent lemonade and ginger age, could have formed no idea of the nature of the real business conducted on those premises. There is not much profit to be made on "temperance drinks," unless on large quantities of the same. But the profit on ''strong waters" is pretty considerable. The trouble at 57 Grey Street began when a youth of unsophisticated appearance called there and purchased a bottle of whisky for which he paid 14/-, a shilling or two more than the article costs at the hotels, but then, you see, all the hotels were closed that day, besides which think of the risk ! Well, that youth had only been served about balf-a-minute when the police rushed in, and discovered about a couple of hundred em.pty beer and whisky bottles, and a dozen unopened whisky bottles to boot, Of oourse a prosecution followed, when acouaed (a man and a woman, both in the sere and yellow leaf) pleaded guilty. The man was fined £40 and the woman £10, the unopened bottles of whisky being confiscated, and ordered to be sent to the public--hospital. The male defendant admitted that he had been selling intoxicating liquor for the past six months. The, woman is an old age pensioner. t Will she forfeit the pension sis'well ? In any case what must have been a ! lucrative trade has come to a ! full stop. The risk these people i ran was a tremendous one. But j was their business the only one of tiie kind in Auckland. It would be inteiesting to, know.