NO SILK PYJAMAS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 73, 28 March 1933, Page 14

NO SILK PYJAMAS.

HOTEL CASE EVIDENCE. THE PROPERTIES OF GIN. Discussions on silk pyjamas for freezing workers, the thirst-slaking qualities 1 of gin, and the question of dancing in hobnail boots provided a diversion in a. case in the Christclmrch Magistrate's ' Court, when Ralph'Sierakowski, licensee of the Empire Hotel, was charged with three breaches of the Licensing Act, and Clyde Smith and Sydney Pearce, freezing works hands, of Kaiapoi, were charged with being on licensed premises after hours. Senior Sergeant Fox said that at 9.5 p.m. on February 14 Sergeant Wolf endale and Constable Devine entered the Empire Hotel, and in the bar upstairs they found Sierakowski, Smith and Pearce. The explanation of the two last-named was that they had come ill from Kaiapoi to go to a dance. They had walked the streets for eonie time, and then applied for a night's lodging at the Empire Hotel. The licensee supplied them with three gins each, but did not make any charge. Smith and Pearce had made no preparation for staying at the hotel, and their names had not been entered in the boarders' book up till the i time the police arrived. Left Toothbrushes at Home? "Would you expect freezing workers to bring silk pyjamas along with them, or would you be surprised that they slept in their shirts 1" askc'. Mr. Thomas when, as counsel for the defendants, he cross-examined Sergeant Wolfendale. The sergeant had stated that the men had brought no luggage with them for their overnight stay. Would the eergeant ba surprised, continued Mr. Thomas, if the freezing workers had left their toothbrushes at home? ■ Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M.: Did they bring shaving gear? Mr. Thomas replied that the men intended returning to Kaiapoi very early next morning. Sierakowski, In evidence, eaid that "one gin had gone down so well that the men were invited to have another." Mr. Thomae (to Sierakowski): I can--1 not pose as an authority, but is not gin a favourite drink on warm nights?— Yes. It is drunk a good deal in tropical countries? —Yes. The magistrate eaid that in India a great deal of gin '.vas consumed. Mr. Thomas (smilingly): I had better not give expert evidence on the point. The question arose as to whether the men had made any preparations for the dance. The senior eergeant said he doubted whether the men could have danced without bringing shoes with them. I Mr. Thomas: I think the senior sergeant is out of date with his dancing. The Senior Sergeant: I am modern enough to know that men cannot dance in big boots studded with hobnails. The magistrate reserved judgment. He stated that thfi.<point at issue was whether the men were actually lodgers at the time of being served with liquor.