BROWN OWL CLUB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 February 1940, Page 6

BROWN OWL CLUB

MEMBERSHIP A SHAM

COMMENTS BY MAGISTRATE.

LESSEE HEAVILY FINED.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day.

"Looking at all the circumstances I am driven to conclude that membership of the club is a sham or cloak under which many persons, whose only purpose is to dance at the Brown Owl and enjoy the conviviality which apparently attends such functions. sign nomination papers, and are at once admitted." said tire Magistrate, Mr A. M. Goulding, in the Lower Hutt S.M. Court in the course of reserved judgment in the case in which May St Johnston was charged with having permitted liquor to be consumed in" the dance hall and with having permitted liquor to be consumed in the restaurant during hours when licenced premises were required to be closed.

The Brown Owl, which is at Upper Hutt, belongs to the defendant’s husband and is leased to her. A licence is held as an accommodation house and restaurant by agreement between herself and a registered body called the Brown Owl Country Club, Inc. Defendant purported to lease the premises to that body together with certain chattels, the document providing that the lesee have the right to occupy the premises between 8 p.m. each Saturday and 9 a.m. the following day. The rental is £2 10s per week, the lease consisting of the-reception room and dance hall, supper room, lounge and conveniences. A management committee of four is provided and consists of the defendant, her husband, their son and Miss Benge. Defendant was chairman and secretary. Defendant banked all the moneys, including subscriptions, in her own account and in examining the nomination forms, said the Magistrate, he found that the defendant was usually the proposer or seconder. He was satisfied that a large number of those proposed signed the forms on the very evening on which they desired to avail themselves of the terpsichorean and other social delights the admission conferred. They paid their humble' half crowns and were, thereupon, elected to membership. On the first charge a fine of £25 was imposed and £7 10s on the other.