CLY-GROG SELLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1917, Page 4

CLY-GROG SELLING.

MOKAU SETTLER FIXED. hi II);- Magistrate's Court yesterday, beiorc Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., Frank liattonbury, of Mokau, was churned on four; counts with selling liquor in an unliecnsed :irea. Mr. ,J. H. Qnilliiun, who ;tppeared for Kattenbury, entered pleas of guilty in connection with alji counts. Counsel described the eas'ea ns being the outcome of a pernicious licensing system. The charges were laid under paragrap' 10 of the Licensing Act, which made special provision regarding Maoris. There was n very small proportion of Maoris in the Mokau district. He submitted that as his client had been the victim of a system, and that as the expenses were heavy, a light penalty be imposed. Defendant was leaving the district, having realised on his property and having made every preparation to go. The Magistrate remarked that he was not sure whether he had the power to inflict a fine in the case of more than one conviction. Mr. Qmlliam said he hoped his Worship would not. send his client to prison. He had no doubt that fines could be imposed. Defendant had not added to the oll'ence by denying it. Senior-Sergeant Bcwden said defendant had previously been convicted for carrying liquor into a no-license area. ■Counsel said the liquor on that occasion was carried in on defendant's boat. Defendant was not there, and the breach was merely a technical one. Sergeaiit Bowden remarked that Mr. Quilliam had given the police every assistance. Seldom had the police been treated with such courtesy by counsel as they bad been by M* Quilliam. Defendant was convicted and fined £3 on each of four counts. Witnesses' expenses and costs totalled £3O -Os 2d. The charges preferred against Harold Morten were, by leave of the Court, withdrawn.