A PUBLICAN'S LICENSE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 11 October 1913, Page 5

A PUBLICAN'S LICENSE.

AN INTERESTING CASE. An interesting case was heard in the Magistrate's Court at Masterton yesterday, wnen Mr J. W. Poynton, U.M., of Palmerston North, heard evidence in support of an application by Mr B. Douglas, formerly of .the Taratahi Hotel, for a certificate of fitness to enable him to hold .the license of a hotel in Palmerston '.North. Mr M. Lavery appeared for Mr Douglas, and Sergeant N. Miller .for .the police. It .transpired that the jaolice had presented an unfavourable, report on the application of Mr Douglas for a license, and in support of this report, evidence was given by Constables Murray and Gregor, of Carterton, to .the effect that the applicant, while licensee of the Taratahi Hotel, had not observed, the provisions of the law in regard to the sending in of returns for liquor sent into .the No-license district of Masterton, .and consequently was not a lit and proper person to hold a pubi lican'* ilicense.

Mr Lavery contended that the allegations made by the police had been the subject of prosecutions, which had failed in the Magistrate's Court. Moreover., no unfavourable report as to the conduct of Mr Douglas had been presented to the Wairarapa Licensing Bench. Evidence was given ; as to the capable manner in which the Taratahi Hotel had been conducted by Mr Douglas, and as to his strict observance of the law by Messrs J. Booth, H. Long, T. Holland, F. Smith, G. Neich, W. Petherick, G. Allen, J. Kelliher, F. Pull, W. Cole, F, Brooks and the applicant himself. Testimonial© from leading business men and settlers in the Wairarapa were also put in.. Mr Poynton intimated tha;fc he would give his decision on Monday next.