THE LICENSING ACT.

Otaki Mail, 18 July 1923, Page 3

THE LICENSING ACT.

CHARGES UF BREACHES IN SHANNON. EX-OTAKI PUBLICAN IN TROUBLE. At the sitting ul the Court ut l’alineislun oil Monday William McKvgg was. charged: “That on June 4, at .Shannon, being ilia licensee ol premises known a 5 the Albion Hotel, he did sell liquor in such premises when they required lo he closed.” He was fur ther charged with exposing liquor lor sale at the same time and place. The delendant pleaded noi guii’y to both charges. ~ 1 Concurrently with the above clurge { Robort McKenzie McKegg was c.'.urgud : “That on June Still, at Moauu.m, being other than the licensee, dal in licensed premises, to wit, the Albiun : Hotel, supply liquor to persons at a time when such persons vu-c- net tu111led to be supplied with so :ii Uqili** ’’ He was further charged: “‘J luit, o:i June -UJi, at the same time and j• In- e. he did expose liquor Jur sale \vh-:i Ilia pi l mist s were icquircd to ho eluded.’ A idea of not giiilly was ciileieq n bo!b cliargi’s. Both delemlan’s '\e;< ■vpi esentcd by Mr McGreg ir Goiistable McGregor, of Shannon, -.oiled that, qt 6.55 p.tn. on Juno i. he vi-.ir.i",] ike. Albion Hotel, bin beiore •niieting ihe premises he noticed the ieir was lii up. (.in entering the bar • parlour he saw eight men, two of whom hi; knew. Robert McKegg, one . of ihu defendants, was in the bar. The ' s ! ide communicating with the bar and Hie parlour was U p and lie saw eight glasses v. hi eh ii-ppeared to have cOnlaim'd liquor—beer and whisky. The J cias ->s were empty ;d lire time. He asked a derendant what lie meant far s r.avij] ; tiie slide n]>. bul lie made no reply. One of the eight men in the : bar parlour explained that their car i had broken rpovn and they would have to stay w here they were, “but they bad not liO 'ked up at “tiie hotel. Tiie otlie.r j men said the stirno. He told the de- 1 fundant. Robort MclCegg, that he hud no rigid ro serve tiie men with liquor 1 but he replied that he considered lie was within his rights. The names of the men were no! entered 'n the J ht-droom book for that day. e For the defence. Mr McGregor said A that Messrs Briscoe Brother?, two of the c.igiu men lound on tho premises, had gone into Ihe street and met some 1 night and intimated that they would he" staving until the following Tne.,11 av. On the night in question they ‘ hod gone into ihe street and met some t old friends whose car had _ broken (jn\vti and they fools them into the !),,ie!. Trie bedroom hook had n.ot “ liven made up lo date, and the prae- ’ tive that was to enter up the term of , a guest’s slay on the first day arid t leave it at that. , J Fvitlence Oil the Hues of counsel's statement was given by Christopher ' ' and William Briscoe, in addition to \ oilier lengthy evidence in rebuttal of c 'he charge. . Mr AleGreg-oi said that tiie Briscoes were bona fi.le lodgers and the party ; L of six liioir guests. His Worship pointed out that at least four of the six men who called in were not bona fide guest?, hui w»- . ual aequainlntiees of tin- Briscoes. Tiie i licensee liad t;n right, to sell liquor to ( tiie Rri s.-nes tor consumption by men who were not their bona, fide guosis.. Roth defendants were fined £5 and ■ costs on the charge of illegally selling "liquor, the charge of exposing liquor - for sale being withdrawn. Arising out of +hp previous case title j j following were charged with having! been found ..p licensed premise- at ( Shannon, to wit. ihe Albion Hotel. - when the same were required to he closed: Christopher Element Briscoe, Edward Woods'. Uavi \ F“X. Percy Butter. Thomas "Taylor, Joseph Higgins j and William Briscoe. i The defendant Taylor said that he j had. only gone to tiie hotel with fim; other five in ihe car because he did! not like to slay outside in the cold. He cliff not have a drink, but wanted 1 to get on t" HuntenTßs. _ j His worship said he would give him j the benefit of the doubt and dismissed ; the information against him. The] other defendant.-, with the exception i of the Briseoes 1 vrth.ild be fined . IT y,rm. costs'" each. .The in-; formation ngain't the Briscoes v, pa dismissed. His Worship bpicmig mat tliev were bona fine lodgers ‘ TWO FI'BTHER CHARGES. Two charges were preferred against Ronald Go! line wood, (l) "That on pine i at Shannon, he was found on licensed premises, to wit, the Albion Tl,itei when such premises were rew closed: i?" On June 4, at. ’-ewg n person, required tuiq r."G of the Licensing Act-. . !,vc< 1 .., bis nunv anu address. ‘O . Conitah " Mf gor. he did give a imse nmn'e and address t C . the constable. , file . caused who km forv. arete... e. tvv.-i Of guilty, was -fined £2 and on each charge. __ i