LICENSING ACT BREACHES

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 71, 27 May 1953, Page 4

LICENSING ACT BREACHES

Liquor After Hours In the Magistrate's Court, Taupo, before Mr A. W. Harlow, S.M., on Friday last, James Watson Birnie was charged that on February 28th, 1953, being licensee of the Spa Hotel, he did seli liquor after hours. Defendant was represented by Mr Ford, and pleaded guilty. Constable E. H. Rowlands, prosecuting, stated that on visit ing the Spa Hotel at 9.25 p.m. on February 28th, eleven persons were found to be unlawfully on the premises. Mr Ford stated that on the night in question the hotel had been fully booked up, and that about six o'cloek the licensee's wife had been taken suddenly and seriously ill. Mr Birnie had been vei'y worried over his wife's condition, and had had the whole care of the hotel thrown suddenly on his hands. Prior to the police visit he had been eoncerned over the non-arrival of the doctor, and owing to the unusual circumstances he had been unaware of the presence of the eleven persons on the premises. Mr Birnie had been seven years in the hotel business and this was the first time he had been before the Court. Replying to a question from the Magistrate, Constable Bowlands stated that there were three women among the persons eoncerned, who were present with their husbands. and that all the people were of good character. His Worship, in entering a conviction, stated that he aceepted the explanation as to the eireircumstances, but that the absence of women on lieensed premises after hours was not to be regarded lightly. Defendant was fined £7 with costs £1.

On Premises After Hours Arising from the same circumstances, eharges of being found on the Spa Hotel premises after hours weire preferred against James Harding i Capper; Robert Arthur Darrington; ' Peter Ellis; Robert Walter Eilis; McDonald Hussey and Ida Marjorie Hussey; Walter Frederick Rimmer and Doreen. Rimmer; Cvril Ernest Baker and Denise Baker; Wallace Riekit. Appearing for Mr and Mrs Baker, Mr F orcl entered a plea of guilty, and stated that defendants had come to the hotel to meet firiends who were due to arrive there to stay. Their friends had not arrived and defendants stayed longer than intendecl. The rnale defendants were fined 10/each with costs £1, and their wives were fined £1 eaeh with the same costs. Peter Ellis pleading guilty, stated that he rregularly stayed at weekends as a guest at the hotel, but on this occasion all accommodation had been booked up. He was fined 10/- with costs £1. The remaining defendants did not appear. Mrs Hussey was fined £1/10/-, costs £1, and the male defendants were finecl £1, costs £1. Commenting on the penalties, the Magistrate stated that it

must be a little more expensive for women to be on premises after foours^ than for men.