THE LIQUOR LAWS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 70, 15 December 1917, Page 3

THE LIQUOR LAWS

SEVERAL CHARGES DISMISSED

FINED FOR SUPPLYING A NATIVE WOMAN

KBy, Telegraph—Press Association.)

V/anganui, December 14. . 'At the Magistrate's Court to-day, ,T. G. Swan, licensee of Ohavanno's Hotel was charged , witi keeping a barmaid einplbyed after 8 o'clock; also with unlawfully exposing liquor for sale. Mr. L. Cohen said the defence was that the barmaid was employed for tho solo purpose of supplying bona-fide diners and lodgers and their guests; also, that the oniy exposure was an opened door to tho bar as the waiter passed in and out, therefore such exposure was not unlawful. ' Mr. Hewitt, S.M., said the whole point was that the law now provides ior 6 o'clock closing on tho same principles as governed 10 o'clock closing, with the variation that more excuse might bo found for a person visiting an hotel after 6 than after 10. If the licensee acted in tho same way again the onus rested upon him to explain lis action. His best course was to so regulate his actions that they would not lead to suspicion. The decision must depend on the circumstances. An hotel may have no boarders, as in tho case of some country hotels. What exouse would such hotelkeepers have in keeping a barmaid after 8 p.m. P In case of an hotel with boarders, tho hotelkeeper was entitled to see they •were served and to keep tho barmaid in the bar for lawful services. In this case the licenses had observed the law, and the caso would be dismissed.

In another case, a well-known commercial traveller was charged with being unlawfully on licensed promises. The evidence sliowed that defendant •had for somo years a sample-room on the premises, the only access to which was through the main entrance of tho hotel. All his correspondence was addressed to the hotel, and had been for Bcme years. On Sunday evening.'.he went to the hotel to get his letters frW tie letter rack. Having secured them, he immediately proceeded to leave the premises •when.' ho was; accosted by the police, tie told them his. purpose in being there, and, without furtfier notice, was proceeded against. The Magistrate said the position was clear. Anyone found on licensed premises after hours, "unless he satisfies tho Court he was there for a lawful purpose," was liablo to a penalty.. Tho Magistrate agreed with Mr. Cohen that the proper thing for tho police was to make due inquiry before subjecting a reputable citizen to the obliquy of Court proceedings; but ho could not say that the.police had no right to .bring such a caso before the Court. Ho was satisfied that in the present case defendant was not on tho premises for any unlawful purpose, and dismissed the case. ; The wife of the licensee of tho MaIBOnic Hotel wa3 fined £20 and costs for selling liquor to a Maori woman.