SALE OF LIQUOR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1943, Page 3

SALE OF LIQUOR

BLAIRLOGIE HOTEL LICENSEE FINED. PURCHASE BY AMERICAN MARINE. The licensee of the Blairlogie Junction Hotel, Thomas Howard Peet, was charged in the Masterton Magistrate's Court this morning, with selling intoxicating liquor, 36 gallons of beer, to Tilden Perry Whitfield, a member o’f the armed forces in uniform, for consumption elsewhere than on the premises where it was sold. Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., fined defendant £l5 and costs.

Senior-Sergeant C. Murphy said complaints were received on March 22 that a number of Maoris and Marines were drinking and fighting in a house at the Maori pa at Te Ore Ore. The police visited the place and took possession of a partly-consumed barrel of beer, which it was ascertained had been supplied by Peet, licensee of the Blairlogie Hotel. Constable Beck interviewed Peet, who made misleading statements to the constable, but later admitted supplying the liquor to Marines. It was a rather serious breach, as he must have known that this liquor was being introduced into a no-licence area.

Mr J. Macfarlane Laing, who appeared for Peet, said defendant was the only male person on the premises. The sale took place late on a Friday afternoon to some Marines. He at first refused to supply the liquor, but the Marines were very insistent and to avoid having a scene in the bar, which was crowded, he finally gave way. His hotel was 12 miles beyond the Taueru and he had no suspicion that the liquor would be taken into a no-licence area. He had been told that it would be taken to a neighbouring place, quite handy to the hotel. Senior-Sergeant Murphy read the statements made by Peet. In the second statement defendant admitted selling 36 gallons of beer at 8s per gallon for £l4 Bs.