THE LICENSING ACT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10174, 25 February 1911, Page 5

THE LICENSING ACT.

ALLEGED BREACHES

A case was heard in the Magis- I trate's Court at Masterton yester- ' day, before Mr L. G. Reid, S.M. in which. Charles Watt, who did not appear, was charged with a breach of the Licensing Act, in having given an. order for liquor for the No- j, •license district of Masterton with- ■ out giving the name iof the person j 'for whom the liquor was ordered. j Sergeant Miller conducted the I prosecution. Willie Burridge, brewer, stated that accused was supplied with beer at his premises recently, and stated that he was taking it through Masterton to the Upper Plain somewhere out of the No-license district. ~j' ■ . Constable Dunn gave as to having found a trap on ' the Carterton road one evening, to which a horse was attached, with no driver. ! Witness met .Watt at the police sta- j tion nest morning, when he admit- j tted that he m-as the man who said i 'he did not own the trap when asked ! *>y the constable, ' I Constable Miller stated that accused came to i.ie police station to j claim some liquor, and the trap and j &orse. Accused stated (that he intended to plant the liquor at the Upper Plain, prior to getting a cottage there. He was going to work at the freezing works. ..,.,;. ; : !■ , His Worship - inflicted, a fine of £lO with costs'9s 6d.; ; >■■ :j Mr S, H. Ralph was: also charged with a breach of the Licensing Act,'j in having received an order for liqtior ! in the no-license district of Master- I ■ton.' . .-.-.- ; .-,-.. .'! Sergeant Miller prosecuted, and, Mr H. C. L. Robirison appeared for the defence. > •' ■ Henry Vaughan, farmer, stated that he gave an order to Mr Ralph for some goods, amongst which was an order for two gallons of whisky.' Mr Ralph made out an order for the whisky, and gave.it to witness to post to Grey town. ' Witness took do livery of the liquor at the W.F.C.A. a day or two later. By Mr Robinson: Witness told Constable Dunn about haying posted the order about a fortnight after. Constable Simm, of Wellington, gave evidence as to having interviewed the defendant Ralph with regard to the taking of the order. Accused stated that Vaughan left the, general order with the 'despatching clerk and accused made/out the order, for liquor. Stephen Henry Ralph, defendant, said that no secret was made of the fact that order forms for liquor from the branches of the firm in license towns were issued. Witness made Out the order for Vaughan for the latter to post to the firm's Greytown (branch. Mr Robinson stated that it was clear that there was no offence. It was ridiculotis that people should be charged l with a breach of the law when they were endeavouring and were complying with the law. Mr Robinson also asked that costs

sihould- be awarded against the police. - * >• " :

His Worship said lie thought it would be better if the firm allowed the liquor to be delivered direct to the man who ordered it instead of the Mastertoni branch of the firm'. The case was (dismissed., without costs.