SYDENHAM WORKING MEN'S CLUB.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13830, 6 September 1910, Page 2

SYDENHAM WORKING MEN'S CLUB.

I COMMISSION OF EXQI"IHV. At the Magistrate's Court yestrrday, Mr W. (;. Kiddell, S.M., sat as a commission to enquire into the allegations which have been made against the management of the Sydenham and Addington Working -Men's Club in con- | nection with the club's charter to provide its members with alcoholic liquors. The following are the allegations mentioned in the order of reference ior the enquiry : — . (.1) That it lias been the practice ot the club to allow card-, to be played tor drinks. (21 That the locker system has been ' flagrantly abused by the storing, on I Saturday nights, of demijohns of liquor jand by'excessive drinking from these J vii the iSiinday. ! (3) That drunkenness has been per- ! mitted on the premises. I (I) That liquor has been .sold over the I bar on iSunday. Mr J. A. i , lesher appeared for the petitioners, and there were also in atI tendance Mr A. Avery (who made the ! original charges), Mr~L. M. Isitt. Mr .J. -McCombs, and Rev. 11. e>. Gray (members ol tho Prohibition LeajriiP*. Mr K. li. Daniels (president), and Mr K. Nordon (secretary), of the License] Victuallers' Association. were also present. Mr T. G. Uussell, who was to appear lon behalf of the Club, was unable to be present. Mr Anthony explained that Mr Russell was engaged on a very important matter, which had iinfor- ' tnnately not been concluded on Saturday, as had been anticipated. As it was impossible for him to appear, j!r Anthony asked for an adjournment till the following morning. The other matter required Mr Russell s personal attention, and he could not possibly attend. The Club would be quite unprepared to go on in the absence of Mr Russell It was a very serious matter, as it affected the Club's charter. MiAnthony pointed out that "when the enquiry was first set down Mr Russell was ready, but the hearing was postponed on account of the Magistrate's illness. Mr Anthony also asked that the other side should give more specific information as to the charges made against the club. The Commissioner: In what respect ? Mr Anthony said that in reference to the charges of drunkenness there were ■no snecihe times or dates mentioned, nor in respect to the sale of liquor on Sundays. The charges were very general. Mr Flesher said that ho had no objection to the adjournment, subject to the payment of expenses by the other side. As to the other application, lie contended that the Commission itself was sufficiently specific, and the ciub knew hotter than anyone what the cases referred to were. Mr Avery said that lie would have to find the expenses of witnesses he had subpoenaed in the event of an adjournment. The Commissioner said that the adjournment would be granted subject to the payment of -witnesses' expenses. Mi , Avery then said ' that he found that Mr Flesher had subpoenaed a mimIjer of his -witnesses. It -would-be better if he handed his brief over to Mr Flesher, and appeared as , an ordinary witness. The Commissioner said that was a matter of arrangement. Mr Avery said that he -would retire from the case as one of the petitioners, and work in conjunction with Mr Flesher. This would prevent a lot of overlapping. Mr Anthony said that as far as costs were concerned, ho would have to accept the tiosition. The Commissioner said that it was •unfortunate that all parties were not ready to go oh. It was necessary in a, matter of this kind that each , party J should have ah opportunity of presenting its case before the Commissioner. He was unwilling that the defendants should be prejudiced in any way, and as the petitioners did not strongly oppose the. adjournment, he was prepared to grant it till next day. That must lw the final adjournment. It would be granted subject to the payment of the expenses of the witnesses," £1 Bs, and solicitors fee £2 2s. As far as the application for more specific information was concerned, he was not prepared to make any order. The bounds of the Commission had been fixed, and the matter must stand at tljat. The hearing was then adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-day.