HOTELS AND LODGERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 838, 9 June 1910, Page 4

HOTELS AND LODGERS.

\ AN IMPORTANT JUDGMENT. (Br TekeraDh—Press AESociationJ Christchurch, June 8. At the Supreme Court to-day an important judgment of Mr. Justice Chap, man was read in the appeal case M. J. Suhan versus James Holmes. Appellant was convicted, fined ,£5, and his license endorsed, for having permitted drunkenness on licensed premises. The facts were that a man who when 6obor had arranged for accommodation was subsequently found asleep on a form in a passage oi the hotel in an intoxicated condition. The ground of appeal was that the man so found was on the premises under his contract with the landlord to provide him with meals and lodging. His Honour, in allowing the appeal, held that where a man comes to an hotel sober, makes arrangement for accommodation, and becomes a lodger, and, is afterwards found by the police in an intoxicated condition, the landlord cannot be properly convicted of permitting drunkenness, and that the lodger had a right by contract to be on the premises. The appeal was allowed, and it was directed that tho conviction be set aside, Mr. J. A. Cassidy appeared for appellant, and Mr. Stringer, K.C., for respondent.