THE LICENSING ACT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7765, 17 March 1905, Page 3

THE LICENSING ACT.

A KNOTTY rOIuST. (Per Press Association.) Al CKLAM), March 16. At a meeting of the Auckland Lirasing Committee there was an ineresting discussion on the question 'hcther an hotelkeeper can refuse to upply liquor to u sober man couiig 10 his hotel. The point arose, ut of a police complaint that an otelkeoper had allowed convicted liicves and reputed thieves to be in is hotel. Mr Raume, who appeared >r the hotelkeeper, said if a man 'cut to an hotel for a lawful our-

pose, namely, to have a drink, and behaved himself, nobody in this "orld had the right to turn him out. ; Suli-lnspecior liiack said a liceosee was not bound to sarve any jnan with liquor. Jf he refused' to serve- 1 an objectionable character, and the man refused to leave thu house, did any man wieh common sense say that the police, if sent for, were not ' justified in turning the man out •? It was done almost every dav. ill- I tannic read a clause oft he U- ] censing Act to show that the licensee could refuse to supply a man with liquor if 'the liquor was demanded only as a pretext for remaining on the premises. Sub-liisjiector liiack : According to the latter amendment a publican is J not bound to serve anybody. Mr Ha time : I would very much like to see that section. To demand 4 liquor from a hotelkeoper was jtist the same as demanding food or a bed. Phe hotelkeepcr was bound to supply any person who came in & respectable manner and demanded food, liquor, or a bed, providing he. had the requisite accommodation, t that the visitor is prepared to pay the ordinary price, and that he is I notjsuch a person who would create a disturbance in the place. The Committee adjourned the case II without solving the point.