LIQUOR ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 222, 13 January 1911, Page 5

LIQUOR ON CHRISTMAS DAY

LICENSEES CHARGED AT WESTPORT. By Tclegraph.—Pross Association. ' Westport, Last Night. Before Mr. Rawson, S.M., to-day, Martin Ryan, licensee of the Grand Hotel, was charged with illegally exposing liquor for sale and selling liquor on Monday, December 20th, such day ac- ", cording to the Public Holidays Act passed last session being deemed to be Christinas Day as that day had fallen on a Sunday. Counsel for the defendant, - " Mr. Moloney, argued lengthily to prove that the Legislature did not intend to ,:■ make hotels close on that day, any mat- ■»' ter affecting the liquor trade being either specially legislated for in the form Licensing Acts or expressly and explicitly stated in such' other Acts. Where the liquor trade was to be affected, a publican's license was granted from last June to next May, and the Legislature would not reduce the privi- • leges under or property held in such license except by sonic form of compensation. The Legislature was not intended to be retrospective. Police Inspector Black, for the prosecution, argued that a literal interpretation of the section of the Act must be taken, and no intention of the Legislature should be accepted. The Magistrate reserved his decision. Iu similar charges against Patrick Ryan, licensee of the Albion Hotel, ana in charges of being illegally on licensed premises against three men, judgment was also reserved.