SUNDAY TRADING.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 229, 5 October 1901, Page 3

SUNDAY TRADING.

WHAT CONSTITUTES A TRAVELLER.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wellington, last night

Judgment was given by the Stipendiary Magistrate to day in the case in which Bayne, licensee of tlte Western Hotel, was charged with having on Ist September (Sunday) sold liquor to two men. According to the evidence given, defendant, when the men applied ior drink, asked them where they came from. They said that they came from Lyttelton by the Tarawera, and represented themselves as being bona tide travellers. One of the men was served with drink, when the Sergeant of .Police arrived on the scene. One of the men was tireman on a steamer which had come into port late at night, and the other did not appear at the hearing. It had been contended in defence that the defendant was entitled to the dismissal of the case, on the ground that ho had taken all reasonable precautions to ascertain whether the men were bonatitjo travellers.

His Worship held that neither of the men had been proved to ho travellers within the meaning of the Act. As to defendant having taken all reasonable precautions, His Worship said that the mere asking the men " Whero did you come from ? ” was not sufficient, and a great deal more was required on the part of the licensee. Considering the peril the licensee was in for a breach of the Act the defendant seemed to have been a great deal too easily satisfied. A tine ot XO 10s and costs was imposed. Leave was granted to appeal.