LIQUOR AFTER HOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 10

LIQUOR AFTER HOURS.

BARMAN FINED £4. As the result of a visit by a sergcanf and constable to the Central Hotel one night early in December, the licensee John Foster, and a barman, Percy Crouch, were charged with breaches of the Licensing Act in the Police Court yesterday afternoon. The licensee was charged with selling liquor aftfer hours and the barman with supplying liquor. Mr. L. J. Stevens represented both defendants, who pleaded not guilty. It was submitted by Mr. Stevens that five persons found on the premises were [ not present without lawful excusie. They were overseas visitors who went to the hotel regularly for ineals. They had ordered liquor which was brought to them while the police were interviewing them. The liquor was not consumed. The licensee, who was absent at the time, had always instructed his staff not to supply liquor to persons who were not staying in the hotel. Mr. Foster had been a licensee for 30 years and had never suffered a conviction. The magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean, said that in view of Mr. Foster's good record in the licensing trade, he would dismiss the charge as trivial. The liarman was fined £4 and costs on the charge of supplying liquor.