SALE OF LIQUOR AFTER

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 25, 14 November 1929, Page 12

SALE OF LIQUOR AFTER

HOURS.

Horace John Archer, of the Family Hotel 1, Lower Hutt, was charged before i Mr.T. B. McNeil, S.M., at Lower Hutt last week with opening ihis premises for the sale of liquor at a time when such premises were directed by the Licensing Act to be closed and with selling liquor at a time when the premises were "directed by the Licensing Act to be closed, .

Seargeant J; McHolm for the police stated that on the evening of the 6th September last "at Lower Hutt, ' the licensee was observed by Constable Tanner handing over two bottles of beer at about 7.^0 p.m. to a couple of men and that defendant had been previously convicted for a similar offence in August last.

Mr C. E. Barrett, counsel for Mr Archer, explained • that his client 's offence was foolish in so far as the sale had been made to oblige a friend and jfchat the amount involved in so far as the licensee was concerned, was only 3s. Counsel mentioned that his client was in a serious state of health and that he had been compelled to take a sea voyage on the advice of his medical practitioner. It was also stated on behalf of the defendant that his health .was in

such a state that he would have to give up the -hotel, and that there was no likelihood of a similar offence being committed in the- future.

In support of counsel's contention that the defendant was a very sick man a doctor's certificate was handed in> aid counsel mentioned the popular gibe that witnesses were divided into three classes", nanaely;—"Liars, D— — Liars and expert witnesses." Counsel urged, however, in corroboration of the medical certificate that had been handed in, that it was corroborated hy. ih& fact that the .defendant had actually left for Australia, and in mitigation of the p-jji-alty that the defendant had pleaded guilty.

His Worship imposed a penalty off* £5 \and court costs 10/- on the information for selling liquor after hours and on the application of the police the information, for exposing liquor for sale was withdrawn. -