BREACHES OF THE LICENSING LAW.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3701, 8 October 1927, Page 3

BREACHES OF THE LICENSING LAW.

CONVICTIONS AND FINES IMPOSED. At the local S.M. Court yesterday before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., C. Pritchard, licensee of the Post Office Hotel, was charged with (1) on ■ September 7th, selling liquor after hours, and (2) on the same date, with exposing liquor for sale. E. Goodman was also charged that not being the licensee of the Post Office Hotel he did, on September 7th, supply two men with liquor. J. Rafferty and W. Watts were also i charged with being illegally on the licensed premises of the Post Office Hotel on the night of September 7th.

All, with the exception of C. Pritchard pleaded guilty. Constable Bell said that at 9.40 p.m. on the 7th September, on passing the hotel, he heard voices in the bar, which was in darkness. He entered the building and met the licensee on the stairs. Witness knocked on the door of the bar, which was opened by Goodman, and inside were Rafferty and Watts. Each had two bottles and a winchester of beer (produced) in his possession. Goodman admitted that both men had had two rounds of drinks also. The lincensee said that he did not know the men were on the premises. I Goodman, who acted as barman, had the keys to the bar. The 'S.M.: You are responsible for. the actions of your barman. 'Constable Owen said that he had no reason to suspect that any afterhours trading had been going on since the hotel had been visited on 7th September. •C. Pritchard was convicted and fined £2 with costs 10/- bn the first charge, the second being dismissed; E. Goodman £5 with costs 10/-, and Rafferty and Watts were each fined £2 with costs 10/-. Constable Owen asked for a ruling as to what was to be done with the liquor and the S.M. facetiously remarked that seeing Rafferty and Watts had paid well over £2 for it that it should be handed over to them,-.

G. P. Rough was charged that on the 17th September in Whyte’s Hotel, and not being the licensee, he did expose liquor for sale. Accused guilty. F. W. Marriott and C. J. ,Quartermain were als’o charged with being illegally on the licensed premises of Whyte’s Hotel on September 17th. Constable Owen said that at 11.10 p.m. on the 17th September, •on passing Whyte’s Hotel, he saw a light and heard voices in the bar. Witness entered the hotel and after being kept waiting for about ten minutes, was admitted into the bar. Quartermain 1 and Marriott were both there, Marriott had ho excuse to offer, but Quarterman said he was waiting for a ring from a friend in Christchurch. The main telephone was located in the office in the vestibule of the building. There were no glasses on the counter, but witness had been kept waiting, for about ten minutes before being admitted. The licensee was away on holiday and accused was managing the hotel during his absence. He was new to the business and evidently did not realise the seriousness of allowing people into the bar after hours. Accused said the main telephone was in the) bar. The S.M.: Then the sooner you get it out the better. You could have used the office ’phone? —Yes. Then there was no need to go into the bar. Rough was convicted and fined £5 with costs 10/-, and Quarterman and Marriott £2 and costs 10/each.

POSTMASTER CHARGED.