LICENSING CASE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 127, 23 February 1920, Page 8

LICENSING CASE

THE MASTERTON CLUB CHARGES.,

(Prom Our Own Correspondent.)

Masterton, February 21. Tho hearing of the final charge in connection with tho recent visit of the police to the Masterton Gentlemen's Club was concluded Into last night, before Mr. E. Page, S.M. _ _' This information was laid against C. Watford and H. M. Boddington, alleging that they were concerned in tho care, management nnd control of premises in tho no-license district of Masterton used ns a placo of resort for the consumption of liquor. Defendants, pleaded not guilty. Mr. R. It. Burrldge conducted tho case for tho Crown, ana Mr. C. P. Skcrrett, K.C., appeared for tho defendants. Called by Mr. Bumdge, William George Lamb, land .agent, Masterton, stated he was a member of the Masterton Club and visited there two or three times a week. Liquor was sometimes consumed privately at tho club. He had the use of a locker, but was not nwaro that there was ono allocated to him in the lumber room. To Mr. Skerrett: He occasionally drank beer at tho club with friends, but thero had never been a suggestion of .the wholesale consumption of liquor on tho premises

To Mr. Burridge. Witness had neen peo'plo drinking in tho club, but only saw hop beer being consumed. To His Worship: The bar was for the purpose of drinking lemonade or hop beer. It was not used much for the consumption of intoxicating liquor. It was generally used for drinking soft drinks. To Mr. Skerrett: The quarter of n bottle of whisky found in his , locker had been thero since the epidemic. Further evidence was given by Charles Bcr-nett. farmer, Masterton. This concluded tho case for the prosecution. Mr. Skerrett submitted that there was no evidence on which to base a conviction, nnd argued at length in support of his contentions. Tho Magistrate stated that he would give a written judgment Inter.