A VALID EXCUSE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18366, 27 April 1925, Page 10

A VALID EXCUSE.

"NOT A BREACH OF THE ACT." (PUSS ASSOCIATION TILMtaAM.) WELLINGTON, April 26. "If a person goes on licensed premises after hours to smooge to the cook, he is not committing a breach of th« Act." Thus Mr F. K. Hunt, Magistrate, when hearing a case in which Harold Brown, a well known merchant, was asked to explain why he was on tho premises of the Carlton Hotel after hours, and in charge of a motor-car while intoxicated.

The evidence of the police was that Brown, who at an earJy hour in tho morning, was not in a fit state to drive a car, had been on licensed premises. The medical evidence was that Brown was suffering from rheumatics and unable to use his arms properly. Asking that he did not wiati tho identity of a certain individual to" be disclosed, Mr J. McGrath, for defendant, said: |'As a man of the world, your Worship, you know there are times when a man does not want the names of his companion disclosed, nor does he wish to let people know where he has been.

Mr Hunt: Yes, I know from experience.

Mr McGrath: You. have a mate here. ITio police stated that Brown was intoxicated and did not make a coherent statement last night. A porter said that defendant had been in one of the rooms.

Tho defendant denied that he had had drink at the hotel.

The Magistrate dismissed the first charge, holding the excuse a valid one. On the second offence, defendant was fined £lO.