BEER AT A BANQUET

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 112, 19 August 1910, Page 2

BEER AT A BANQUET

LICENSEE FINED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, August 17. A prosecution of considerable interest to licensees and evening banqueters, who to a certain extent are the guests of a hotel for the purpose of a smoke concert, dinner or other entertainment, was heard at the Magistrate's Court today before Mr. W.. G. Riddell, S.M. Marshall John Donnelly, licensee of the 'New Zealander Hotel, was, on the information of the police, charged that, on August 8, he allowed liquor, although purchased .before the hour of closing the hotel, to be consumed on his premises. The facts were that on the evening of August 8 the Ramblers' Football Club, on the occasion of their winning the championship, 'held a dinner and smoke concert at the New Zealander Hotel. A quantity of 'beer, whisky and cordials was purchased in the afternoon for consumption at the dinner. Under section 190 of the Licensing Act any licensee who, during a time at which the licensed premises are directed to be closed, allows any liquor, even though purchased before the hour of closing, to be consumed on his premises, is liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO. At 10.35 p.m. on the night in ques--1 tion, Sergeant Kelly and Constable Bennett knocked at the front door of the hotel, and were promptly admitted. In the dining room the Ramblers' Club dinner was in progress. Someone was singing as the police reached the door, and the officers saw glasses in front of the banqueters, and several jugs of beer on the table. Counsel for the defence submitted that the case was not one for conviction. The entertainment started at 7.30, and it was probably over soon after 10.30. All that had 'been proved was that liquor was on the table -when the police entered. There were some glasses containing a certain 1 quantity of beer, mostly dregs, but most of the glasses had lemonade. The Magistrate convicted defendant, and imposed a fine of '2os and costs.