SLY GROG

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 404, 13 December 1932, Page 4

SLY GROG

TE WHAITI WOMAN SELLS BEER TO POLICE Selling four bottles of h'ome-br-ew to a constable for 6/- cost Margaret Scott of Te Wliaiti £3 in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court yesterday. Senior-Sergeant C'arroll for the police said that a constable had gone to Reporoa and had purchased four bottles of home-brewted beer from Mrs. Scott. A sample of tbe beer isent to the Government Analyst had revealed that it contained 8.40 per cent. proof spirit. Later he and Constable Brown had gone to execute !a search' warrant but on visiting found that, Mrs Scott had no beer left so did not execute the warrant. Later they went on to the dance hal lto try and get some of the liquor but were too late since it was already drunk. "There is quite a handful of people dabbling in home-brew with the idea of making a, few shillings," said' S'enior-Sergeant Garroll. The defendant's name as a matter of fact was not on the list of suspects. So> many people are making a few shillings from selling home-brew that we are taking a serious view." Mr. R. A. Potter said that in this particular oase Mrs. Seott had; made a batchj of home-brew for her hushand who was on relief work. The constable h'ad come and asked her for a beer and she had offiered to give him ia bottle but he had offered her 6/- for four bottles land the temptation was too much .. She had had a bad. fright and would not offend again, The- Bench said that it was unfortunate that the defendant was in poor circumstances. If she had been in better circumstances. he would have inflicted a heavy fine. In the circumstances -she would be fined £3 and 10/- costs. This should not be taken as a precedeat said the bench. for