LICENSING ACT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 208, 27 April 1932, Page 6

LICENSING ACT

ALLEGED SUPPLYING OF LIQUOR ON GOOD FRIDAY DECISION RESERVED Breaches of the Licensing Act through supplying liquor and permitting it to be supplied on a day when the bar was required by law to be closed, were alleged against William Galbraith, lieensee of the Geyser Hotel, and his barman, Richard Jago, in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. The charges were defended by Mr. M. H. Hampson, who stated that the two men in respect of whom the charges were laid, had representod to the barman that they were boarders in the hotel, and in that belief, they had been supplied with liquor. The date on which the breaches were alleged was Good Friday, and it was stated that the hotel had been vevy full at the time, and as a result the barman had not been acquainfed with the men. On Mr. Hampson's application, the case against Jago was taken first, counsel pointing out that if His Worship found in favour of his client, the police might see fit to withdrr.w the charge against lieensee. After hearing evidence, the Magistrate reserved his decision. Senior-Sergeant Carroll, outlining the case, said that on Good Friday, in cornpany with Constable Brown he had visited the Geyser Hotel. In the bar he had found two men who were drinking. They had informed him that they were guests and had given the numbers of two rooms, but when these were checked up, they we"'e found to be those of a staff room and an unused room. Richard Thomas Jago, barman at the hotel, said that on the afternoon in question, the two men had tappcd on the door of the bar and had asked for a drink. He had asked them whether they were boarders before ho would admit them, and they had assured him- that they were. There were a lot of people in the hotel at the time, and he had no reason to doubt their word. He had had no doubts until the police asked the men for the numbers of their rooms and they had hesitated. The lieensee of the hotel, William ^"ITvr'th. said that at Easter time, there had been over 60 people in the house. His barman had been instructed at bi7.sy times always to enquire whether m°n requiring drmks were boarders. It was always difficult at these times to know who were boarders. or who were not. Mr. Hampson quoted legal authority in supnort of his contention that the case should be dismissed and H;s Worshin intimated that he would reserve his decision.