MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1939, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

FORTNIGHTLY MASTERTON SITTING POLICE AND BY-LAW CASES. CHARGE OF SLY-GROG SELLING. Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., presided at the fortnightly sitting of the Masterton Magistrate’s Court today. Arthur Lobb was fined £5 and 10s costs on a charge of assisting in the conduct of certain premises as a common gaming house. Detective-Sergeant W. Kane said that Lobb was employed in a local billiard room and during the absence of a man previously convicted of bookmaking, Lobb had taken money. It was not suggested that he was making anything out of it. Mr R. R. Burridge, who entered a plea of guilty on behalf of Lobb, said his client was not concerned with bookmaking and had been merely foolish. Lobb was given a month in which to pay. “Southey has no recollection of the sale of liquor, but he realised that it would be impossible for him to go into the box and convince the Magistrate that he did not supply the constable,” stated Mr C. C. Marsack, referring to a charge of selling liquor in a no-licence area preferred against Herbert George Southey. The constable, however, was equally certain that he had bought the liquor. Senior-Sergeant G. A. Doggett said that a special constable had been sent to Masterton to watch out for slygrog selling and bookmaking. The constable visited the premises on several occasions when he saw indications of drinking and the sale of liquor. The constable purchased two mottles of beer from Southey. Mr Lawry said there was no doubt that such premises got a reputation for having liquor on sale and that a certain amount of pressure was brought to bear on the occupier to sell. He convicted and fined Southey £3O and 10s costs. “Although he was new to the trade he must have known some of his obligations,” remarked Mr Lawry when Arthur John Allison was charged with failing to furnish the Clerk of the Court with details of the sale of liquor sent to a no-licence area and with failing to enter in a book particulars of the sale. Allison was convicted and fined £5 on each of the two charges with costs amounting to £1 3s. Mr Lawry said that Allison was liable to a fine of £5O arid £2O. Frederick Brady was fined 30s and 12s costs on a charge of failing to give way to another vehicle oh his right at an intersection. Defendant said: “I have been driving a motorcar for 30 years and this is my first mishap.” For having no driver’s licence, a motor-cyclist,- Guy Hultenberg, was fined £1 and 10s costs and also a similar amount for not having an efficient silencer. A fine of 10s and 10s costs was imposed on defendant for having no tail-light on his machine. For failing to take out radio licences the following were fined 10s and 10s costs: E. 'M. Geange, C. H. Mead, M. M. Murray and C. 'Whyte. V. G. Thompson, on a similar charge, was fined £1 and 10s costs. J. A. Charlton was fined £1 and 10s costs for having no warrant of fitness. On breaches of the parking restrictions in Queen Street, M. D. Denize and William Bell were fined 10s and 10s costs. Charges of breaches of' the Borough hosing restrictions and wastage of water were preferred against the following who were fined the amounts stated: L. Polson, P. Cunningham, 10s and 20s 6d costs; B. H. Pringle, G. Grantham, £1 and 20s 6d costs; C. E. Rogers, 10s and 21s 6d costs; H. M. Morton, 5s and 20s 6d costs; W. O. Wilton, £1 and 20s 6d costs. Thomas McCracken was fined 10s and 10s costs for failing to carry a warrant of fitness.