THE LICENSING LAW.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1407, 18 March 1905, Page 3

THE LICENSING LAW.

A LICENSEE’S EIGHTS. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, last night.

At n meeting of tho Anokland Lioonsing Committoo there wos an interesting discussion on the question whothev hotelkeeper oau refuse to supply liquor to a sober man coming to hia bote*. Tho point aroso out of a police complaint that a hotelkeeper had allowed convicted thieves and reputed thieves to bo in hia hotel. Mr Baume, who appouied for tho hotelkeeper, said if a man wont to a hotel for a lawful purpose, namely, to have a drink, and behaved himself, nobody in this world had a right to turn him out. Sub-inspector Blaok seid a liconsco was not bound to serv e auybudy with liquor. If ho rc-i'usod to servo .an objoctiooable oharaotor and tho man refasod to leave I the hotel, did any man with common j sense say that a polioeman, if sent for, was I not justified in turning tho mau out ? It I was dona almost every day. |

i Mr Baume read a clause of tho Licensing Act to show that a lioensee oould refuse to supply a man with liquor if tho I liquor was "emunded only as a pretoxt for rqmaininr -iho premises.' hr Black: According to a I later amendment a publican is not bound I to serve nuybody. j Mr Baume ; I would .very much like to j see tho section. To demand liquor from | a hotelkeeper was just tho same as demanding food or a bed. A hotelkeeper I was bound to supply any person who I came in a respectable manuer and de- | mended food, liquor, or u bed, providing I he had the requisite accommodation, that I visitor is prepared to pay the ordinary . price, and that he is not suoh a person as I ; would create a disturbance in the plaoo. I j Tbe Committee adjourned tho case with- I out solviDg the point. I