The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, February 5, 1910. A QUESTIONABLE RULING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 808, 5 February 1910, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, February 5, 1910. A QUESTIONABLE RULING.

No doubt the police are a little disappointed at the result of the recent licensing cases heard before Magistrate Thomson last Wednesday. More particularly do we refer to the ruling of the Magistrate in respect to Sunday treating or “ shouting ” by borders for their friends. According to Mr Thomson’s reading of the Act, a boarder who chooses to spend the week end at a public house can invite his friends to come inside and “ have a wet on Sunday and the police are powerless to stop it. We question whether Mr Thomson’s ruling and interpretation is endorsed by other magistrates throughout the dominion, and further, we are of opinion that Mr Thomson has set up a ruling which is foreign and utterly opposed to the spirit of the Act. That a boua fide boarder is entitled to his liquor on Sunday is in accord with the Act, but when a boarder is permitted to invite his friends and hangers-on to drink in a pub. on Sunday, the thing is monstrous, and the police are rendered powerless to act. The evidence of Sunday drinking is far too prevalent in Foxtou at present and Mr Thomson's ruling will oply add to this evil.