THE LICENSING ACT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10306, 5 August 1911, Page 6

THE LICENSING ACT.

ALLEGED BREACHES

At tho Magistrate's Court in Masterton yesterday, before Mr L. G. Reid, S.M., the police proceeded \ against James W. McCrae, who was charged under sections 146 and 147 of the Licensing Act, with having delivered liquor in the No-License disI trict of Masterton, having reasonable ground to suppose that it was to be kept for sale, and with having given an order for liquor and not giving tho name and address of the person for whom the liquor was intended. Mr C. A. Pownall appeared for accused, who pleaded not quilty. Sergeant Miller stated that in such cases the onus was on the accused to prove that tho liquor was not kept for sale. , Mr Pownall said that the accused was only called on to prove that he had no reasonable grounds to suspect that the liquor was to be kept for sale. Sergeant Miller, in evidence, said that he accosted McCrae, who, in answer to a question, said he had got some, liquor in Carterton, but ii was not for himself. The liquor was for a man named Reside, according to the accused's statement. Accused also stated that he gave the liquor to a cabman, whose name he did not know, to deliver it to Mr Reside. Later in the day witnes saw McCrae and Reside in a cab, and he asked them if they had got two cases. McCrae said he did not know whether he got one case' or two. Reside said his liquor was not delivered by a cabman. The case was by that time almost finished. By Mr Pownall: Accused did not tell witness what condition he was in at Carterton. Witness was aware that Reside had four sons, who would probably use some of the liquor. Constable Dumphy corroborated the evidence of Sergeant Miller. James McCrae, cordial manafacturer, and the defendant in the case, stated that his age was 70 years, and he had been in New Zealand for about fifty years. Witness stated that ho went to Carterton with a party. The party went to the south end of the town, and witness stayed to do business in the centre of the town. He nad ordered and signed for some whiskey for Reside, and the liquor was put on the car at the Marquis of Normanby Hotel. Witness added that he had no intention of evading the law. Witness returned to Masterton with the rest of the party. Reside claimed one case of whisky, and witness did not know what had become of. the other. By Sergeant Miller: Witness expected to be paid for the two cases of whiskey. Witness had never signed for any liquor before. His Worship said he was satisfied that the liquor was not obtained by defendant knowing that it was to be kept for illicit sale. The information on the charge was dismissed, and on the second charge accused was fined. 40s, with costs 9s.