BONA FIDE DRINKERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1364, 27 January 1905, Page 2

BONA FIDE DRINKERS.

3 Per Press Association. I 1 WESTPORT, last night. Three well-known townsmen appeared before the Magistrate,, Mr Ken-rick, char-gacl with being on- licensed premises on January 7, dur--1 ing prohibited hours. The defence 1 of one was that he Was there at the 1 invitation of a bounder, who was to leave Westport next day, and of the other, that he Was also 1 here as an invited friend, and also to do, business with the boarder prior, to- hie departure. Both had -a drink, in the commercial-room with their friend and at their friend’s expense. His Worship, said it was the first case in which a hoarder invited a guest to remain. 11 there was a similar case pending he would adjourn his ■decision, but he did not know of one. He did not see anything in the new jAcfc to alter the power given in the old Act for a hoarder to entertain a friend after hours in a private sit-ting-room, 1-Ie did not say a hoarder could supply, drinks at a bar, hut a hoarder (who -had no other home) could chat with personal friends in the part of the house he usually occupied. His Worship pointed to the danger of attempts to evade the Act hy ; staffing -that accused were the guests of hoarders when they were not bona fide so. His Worship considered the accused were bona fide guests of the -hoarder and dismissed the case. The ‘ third man washaving a drink in compnay with the others, but said he did not know 1 who paid for- it. The -Magistrate ’ held that he was not a bona fide i guest, and- fined him tec shillings I and costs, - . . . <