PUBLICAN AND STATION HAND.
A MAGISTRATE’S COMMENTS.
Masterton, May 12. “I am asked to believe that this man —a working man—spent £lO4 during the three weeks he stayed at the Taueru Hotel,” said Mr. S. L. P. Free, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. “In addition to this sum he is alleged to owe the publican £33 for liquor supplied during that period. Counsel for defendant has perhaps rightly suggested that the man ‘led a ‘champagne life on a beer income.' It was admitted by both sides that plaintiff received a cheque for £5O from defendant on his first appearance at the hotel, and that the cheque was cashed the next day, but it Jias not been proved by plaintiff that he paid the money over to defendant. Further, the publican admits receiving a cheque for £2O from Mr. McLaren on the man’s behalf—a total of £7O. It is this sort of thing that brings hotelkeepers into disrepute. I feel very strongly about it. It is a disgrace that working men of this class should be allowed to spend their money in soaking themselves with
drink. The man himself is partly to blame, but the hotelkeeper is mainly responsible. Judgment will be given for defendant, the costs to be borne by each /side.” In the case referred to above, John James Oliver, formerly licensee of the Taueru Hotel, sued William Herrington, station hand, of Ngakanui Station; for balance owing on liquor supplied, board and money lent, an amount of £4O 18s in all. The statement of claim alleged that defendant had been supplied with 18 bottles of champagne, three hotties of gin, four bottles of whisky, and 11 bottles of ale in a period of 20 days.
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Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1921, Page 8
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287PUBLICAN AND STATION HAND. Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1921, Page 8
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