BREACHES OF THE BEER DOTY LOT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2027, 1 April 1890, Page 4

BREACHES OF THE BEER DOTY LOT.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, on Friday, John Hole, of Timaru, brewer, was fined £SO for neglecting to make a true and correct entry in a book kept by him far the purpose, of the kind and estimated quantity of beer produced at his brewery on February 24th. The same defendant was also fined £25 for neglecting to show an officer of the Customs 3061 b of hops he had on his premises on a day named.

William Taylor was charged with making a false entry in returning 21 bushels of malt instead of 98 bushels, as part of the balance of all materials for brewing on hand at the end of the month of February. Mr C. Perry appeared for the defendant, and said that though his client had been guilty of a technical breach of the Act he was not really guilty of moral fraud. The Act was exceedingly stringent, and defendant had to make out his own innocence, and as it was impossible for him to do so, he (Mr Perry) had advised him to plead guilty. His client had only been in the brewery a short time, and was a man of small means, therefore ho would ask the bench to inflict only the minimum penalty, especially as conviction involved forfeiture of plant. He hoped Government would not insist upon the forfeiture, for that would mean absolute ruin to the defendant. The ground of the charge was a mere matter of book-keeping—there was no fraud in it. The object of this kind of return was to enable the Customs to check the quantity of beer made in the breweries, and a man might honestly have more material in his possession than he returned, and return the quantity of beer made properly. Mr White, for the Department, agreed to the infliction of the minimum penalty of £SO. This fine was inflicted, with counsel’s fee, £3 3s. Two other informations were withdrawn. The convictions involve forfeiture of the plants and brewing materials, but Mr Cooper, Customs officer, said he would be willing to forward a petition praying for a remission of that part of the penalties.