SALE OF LIQUOR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 329, 16 September 1932, Page 6

SALE OF LIQUOR

WANGANUI RIVERBOAT OWNERS FINED FOR BREACHES OF LAW. RENEWAL OF LICENSE OPPOSED Wanganui, Monday. In the Wanganui Magistrate's Court to-day, fines totalling over £140, with costs, were imposed on the Wanganui River Services, Ltd., for breaches of the licensing laws in respect of the sale of liquor on its river steamers. A steward in the employ of the company was also fined. In a lengthy judgment, the magistrate, Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., pointed out that the proseeution relied on the evidence of the probationary constable who had been speeially detailed for this duty, and on most of the counts his evidence had been denied by Campbell on oath. Nevertheless the magistrate had no hesitation in . accepting the evidence of the constable. Mr. Salmon fined Campbell, who was steward of the Whakopai, £5 with costs on each of seven charges. He also fined the Wanganui River Services Company £5 on each of the same charges. The company was also finod £10 in respect of the sale of liquor on the Ongarue to Constable Chaytor, and £10 for the sale of liquor to two men on the same vessel. The Ongarue did not hold a packet license. At the adjourned meeting of the Licensing Bench this" afternoon, Inspector Mcllveney opposed the application of the Wanganui River Services Ltd. for a packet license to sell liquor in the steamer Otanui, on the grounds that they had been convicted of these offences. Counsel for the company submitted tbat the offences had been committed unwittingly, on the assumption that licenses for various boats were transferable. He explained tbat for many years the company had had five licenses and had only just learned that they were not transferable from one boat to another. After a brief discussion the committee granted tbe license. . Mr. J. II. Burnet said to counsel for defendants that in the old days the company had had an agreement with the Licensing Bench not to sell liquor to the Maoris. He would lilce to see this in operation again. Not that he eonsider ed that the Maoris were not able to take. care of themselves, but because it was the wish of the Maoris tliemselves. The agreement was made about 35 years ago, and during the life of the late Mr. Alexander Hatriclc had been strictly observed. Counsel for the company gave an undertalcing to observe. the agreement, of which he said it had been unaware. !