The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, January 20, 1910. A RECORD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 801, 20 January 1910, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, January 20, 1910. A RECORD.

Ponton established a faiiiy good record so far as breaches of the Licensing Act are concerned, at the S.M. Court yesterday, when 18 cases were set down for hearing. Of these, eleven were heard, being charges against individuals for being unlawfully on licensed premises, and convictions and fines were imposed in ten cases. The lemainder are held over for a fortnight. It seems almost incomprehensible why people take such risks, not only to themselves, but to the licensees. Surely they can procure all the liquor they require to satisfy a demoralising and physical-wrecking habit within the statutory time limit, without breaking the law. Licensees have the remedy in their own hands, for if persons refuse to leave the premises when called upon to do so, the police should be asked to do the rest. We cannot think that licensees are so shortsighted or mercenary as tq risk the endorsement of their licenses for the sake of a few shillings. Yesterday’s offenders can congratulate themselves on getting off so lightly, as the law provides for much heavier fines than were imposed. These offences do not redound to Foxton’s credit.