BOWLERS' LIQUOR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 448, 4 February 1933, Page 5

BOWLERS' LIQUOR

(Press Assn.

HOSPITALS BENEFIT AS RESULT OF RAID BUSINESS CUT SHORT

— By Telegraoh — Copyrlght)

Wellington, Friday. Liquor valued at £70, which was seized by the police when they raided the premises of the. Wellington .Bowling Club on January 21, was forfeited by order of the Court when the club was eharged before Mr. Page, S.M., with selling liquor on unlicensed premises. The Magistrate direeted that the confiscatgd liquor should be sent to the Wellington Hospital for administration to patients. In addition he imposed a fine of £25 on the club. Police Constables' Visit After Mr. Perry for the club had entered a plea of guilty, Sub-inspec-tor Martin said that the club was a limited liability company and action was talcen against the club in pref erence to proceeding against individual members. During the recent New Zealand tournament there were a considerable number of interested players and spectators present at the. green in addition to a sprinkling of public. On certain information received action was taken to ascertain how certain liquors were being disposed of at the club. Two constables visited the pavilion, and not bedng noticed intermingled with players and public alike. They saw three barmen openly selling all kinds of liquor for which money was being passed. The constables visited the premises at 5 p.m. and remained till 7.30 p.m. and dnring that time they obtained four different saies of liquor without any difficulty at all. A warrant was issued and the following day Senior-Sergeant Scott and Sergeant Wilson visited the premises and seized a quantity of liquor. On the morning of the police visit several ,crates of beer and stout were delivered to the club. Mr. Perry in the course of a statement said that on the afternoon of the final of the rinks there were over 600 spectators. During the tournament there were so many outside bowlers present that it was impossible for persons dispensing liquor to distinguish between guests of the club and others. Sizbstantial Penalty Likely He said that the liquor delivered on'the morning of the raid was in anticipation of and in preparation for presidents' and vice-presidents' day, on which occasion liquor was given free by the club. He asked that the liquor required for this purpose valued at approxhnately £15 should not be forfeited as it would have been required for legitimate entertaining. In the event of forfeiture, however, the club suggested that th-e liquor should be given to the Wellington Ilospital. The club, said Mr. Perry, gave. an assurance that in future it would not eommit* any breach of the Licensing Act whatever. After malcing an order for forfeiture Mr. Page said he would take its value into consideration when fixing the fine. The club seemed to have dealt in a fairly substantial way with liquor and he would have to impose a fairly substantial penalty.