Caution to Publicans.

Manawatu Herald, Issue III, 10 March 1891, Page 3

Caution to Publicans.

» . .... During the hearing of a case in Court to-day says the Hawera Star the R.M., Mr Kettle, drew the attention of the police to the fact that evidence often showed that natives must have been supplied with drink after they had had more than sufficient. This was contrary to the law and he wished the police to endeavour to find out and to prosecute publicans who supplied drink to persons who already had sufficient. He had instructed the police in New Plymouth to do so. The 146 th section of the Licensing Act provided that when" a publican supplied drink to persons who were intoxicated the publican was liable. He (Mr Kettle) held that a man was intoxicated when he had had more than was good for him. It was not necessary to wait until a man could not walk before coming to the conclusion that he was intoxicated. The persons he wanted to get at — or, rather whom the police should try to get at — were the persons who supplied the drink to persons who had already had more than enough. It had always seemed a strange thing to him that while drunkards were brought before the Court the persons who supplied the poison were not, and he thought if the police could get hold of the one they could, with a little trouble, get hold of the other. He had seen cases where, had it been his duty to do so, he could have laid an information. He hoped the police "would see what could be done. That would, perhaps act as a check upon unfortunate natives spending in a day or two the money they received as rents.