LICENSE ENDORSED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 287, 15 September 1933, Page 8

LICENSE ENDORSED

FINE IMPOSED ON PUBLICAN

LIQUOR SOLD AFTER HOURS

(Special to the " Guardian.") CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

John Griffen (licensee of the Provincial Hotel) was fined £lO and costs by Mr E. J). Mosley, S.M. yesterday, for selling liquor after hours. Further, the Magistrate ordered that Griffon's license should be endorsed with a record of the conviction, which was the sixth within two years. Defendant's counsel, during the hearing, declared that under certain clauses in the hotel lease an endorsement would mean a straight loss of £1250 to his client.

Defendant pleaded guilty to the charge mentioned and also to a charge of selling to an intoxicated person, on which he was convicted and discharged. Mrs Isabella May Griffen, the licensee's wife, was fined £5 for supplying liquor after hours when she was a person other than the licensee. Sub-Inspector Edwards said that at 1.55 on Sunday, September cf, two policemen visited the hotel to interview defendant about something that had happened the previous night. Two men were found in the bar and Mrs Griffen was v behind the counter. The licensee said the men had been staying at the hotel the previous night, lint they denied that that was so. One of the men was drunk and had been supplied with liquor when in that condition. .

"It is not Griffen's first appearance," added the sub-inspector. The Magistrate : I'm .afraid I know him rather well, sub-inspector. Mr Sargent, who represented the defendants, submitted that the case was not a had one of its type. Griffen had been before the Court on previous occasions and once had been fined £5. The Magistrate: That was last year and before that be was in Court three times.

Mr Sargent: He is improving to some extent.

The Magistrate?: I'm glad to hear you say so. Counsel went on to say that if endorsement was being considered he would have to explain the serious results in that event. He quoted figures to show that endorsement of his client's license would involve Griffen in a straight loss of £1250. Griffen had not known that the man in the bar was drunk, continued Mr Sargent, while Mrs Griffen had not considered that he was in a state of intoxication. If the license was endorsed the punishment would be far more serious than if a large fine should be imposed. The Magistrate: This is the licensee's sixth eonviction within two years. That is what cannot possibly be allowed to 20 on, and I. would "be failing in my duty if I did not take some steps to have the matter brought before the Licensing Committee in the proper way. Mrs Griffen will be fined £■•>. Griffen is convicted and discharged for selling to an intoxicated person. For selling after hours he is fined £lO and costs and his license is ordered to be endorsed with a record of the conviction.