BILLIARDS LICENSE CANCELLED.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18239, 25 November 1924, Page 14

BILLIARDS LICENSE CANCELLED.

proprietor before borough COUNCIL. fSPSCIAIi TO "THE PRISi.") TPMARJJ, November 24. The licensee of the Atlas Billiard Saloon, D. Callaghan, was summoned bejore the Borough Council to-night to' show cause why his license should not be cancelled.

,Inspector Willis conducted the case, for the police, and Mr W. D. Campbell appoarod for the defendant. ' The evidence was taken in committee.

On open Council being) resumed, Cr. Hawkey aaked. tho Mayor if ,he could quote a parallel case under which a licensee had ibeen deprived of his license for allowing a bookmaker to frequent his premises. ;Tno Mayor said he could not do so offhand. '

Cr. Satterthwaite said he would move that tho license be cancelled. He thought the police had proved thedr case up to the hilt, and it was the duty of the Council to do all in their power to'., assist the- police to prevent this form of gambling. Cr. T.W„-Manchester seconded the motion.

The Mayor said that to his mind it seemed a little hard to turn a man out of his means of livelihood at a moment's notice. Perhaps a little time could be given. He was quite satisfied that defendant had been permitting an illegitimate business to bo carried on on his promises. Cr. Satterthwaite said he was prepared to amend his motion so as to allow defendant time to sell out his business.

Cr. E. It. Guinness said he did not think that the evidence given by the police was sufficient to show that the billiard saloon had been conducted in a disorderly manner. Cr. J. Hay said that in spite of what defendant had said to the contrary, he did not doubt that ho had been warned by tie police not to allow the alleged booli maker mention od to frequent his premises. He proposed that the license should be cancelled as from January 31st, 1925. , , x , Cr. Vinnell moved as a further amendment that the evidence of the police and defendant should be noted, and the license reviewed on March 31st. Cr. Hay's amendment was defeated by six votes to five. . .Cr. Vinnell, _ in speakmg to Ins amendment, said bo agreed with Mr Campbell, who had submitted that the Council bad not the right to set itself up as a court of law to determine whether or not a man was a bookmaker. Cr. Yinnell's was lost by four votes to seven, and Cr. Sattertbwaite'e motion that the license be cancelled as from December 31st was carried by seven votes to four.