ON A BIG SCALE

Southland Times, Issue 21099, 3 June 1930, Page 7

ON A BIG SCALE

SLY GROG SELLING. AUCKLAND RESTAURANT RAIDED. ’ FINE OF £5O IMPOSED. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, June 2. “This is one of the worst in the city so far as sly grogging is concerned,” said SubInspector Shanahan at the Police Court this morning when Joseph Ulrich, proprietor of the Royal Cafe, was charged with selling beer without a license. Ulrich, for whom Mr McLiver appeared, pleaded guilty. “On April 11,” said the Sub-Inspector, “Constables Poll and O’Carroll went to the restaurant and had supper shortly after 10 p.m. They were supplied with six bottles of beer for which they paid 6/-. The restaurant was raided by Sergeants Campagnola and Branchley on April 19. When the sergeants read out the search warrants to Ulrich, he told them there was no liquor in the place. ‘l’m going to make a thorough search anyway,’ said Sergeant Campagnola. ‘There’s no liquor here,’ said Ulrich. When the sergeant went upstairs, he found four bottles of beer. Ulrich then said ‘Oh, well, I may as well tell you. It is in this room here.’ In the room were found 136 bottles of beer, 35 bottles of stout, 10J bottles of wine, 5 bottles of whisky and two decanters of wine and 75 empty bottles, as well as glasses. There is a taxi stand outside the restaurant and we have good reason to believe that there has been a considerable amount of drinking going on by the general public,” said Sergeant Shanahan.

Mr McLiver said that Ulrich had been in Auckland many years and had never been in trouble before. Three dozen bottles did not belong to him, but to a man who lived at Ohinewai. “These Dalmatian people do not drink tea, they prefer wine,” said counsel. The liquor had been kept in a locked room. A relative of Ulrich’s was returning to Dalmatia and the liquor on the premises was to be consumed at a big farewell send-off. “But this was spoilt by the police raid,” said Mr McLiver. Mr Hunt, S.M., imposed a fine of £5O, in default three months’ imprisonment. Seven days were allowed in which to pay the fine. “Look here, if you come up again for this you will get three months straight out,” the Magistrate told Ulrich.